Seven people from Kenya have won a case in a London Family Court, proving they were fathered by British men who worked at an army base in their country. Utilizing commercially available DNA databases, these individuals successfully identified their fathers—six who served in the British Army Training Unit in Kenya and one who worked as a contractor. This landmark decision is the first of its kind in a UK court and now allows the claimants to apply for British citizenship.

The group was represented by British lawyer James Netto, who, along with geneticist Denise Syndercombe Court, embarked on a project to collect DNA samples and testimonies from individuals in Nanyuki, Kenya. Many inhabitants believed their fathers had served at the nearby British Army base, known as Batuk.

One claimant, Peter Wambugu, recounts growing up knowing his father was a British soldier, yet they never met. He faced bullying for being mixed-race but expressed joy after being reunited with his father, who claimed he was unaware of Peter's existence. Another unidentified claimant described her feelings of abandonment after meeting her father only once at age four.

James Netto expressed that while this was a significant achievement, many more individuals remain in similar situations, and the next steps involve addressing more challenging cases. The Ministry of Defence stated it collaborates with local child support authorities regarding paternity claims but views these matters as private life's issues. This ongoing story is part of a five-part World of Secrets podcast produced by the BBC.