Kenya: Children born to serving British soldiers abandoned
Al Jazeera · Just In
Al Jazeera
Just In
From remote villages and towns in Central Kenya to a courtroom in London, a landmark judgment is giving hope to hundreds of children born to British soldiers and Kenyan women. For decades, many have lived in the shadows.
Breakdown
- Hundreds of mixed-race children in Kenya have been fathered and often abandoned by British soldiers stationed there.
- Eight Kenyan mothers recently won a UK family court case, with DNA evidence proving paternity by British servicemen. 34s
- This is the first time commercially available DNA databases have been accepted as evidence in a UK court for such cases. 44s
- The UK Ministry of Defence says paternity claims are private matters but cooperates with local child support authorities when claims arise. 1m 44s
- The British military's presence in Kenya spans over 60 years, with longstanding allegations of unpunished crimes and ongoing struggles for recognition by affected families. 2m 16s