Court Drama as Saitoti’s Widow Opposes Man’s Bid to Exhume Her Late Husband’s Remains for a DNA Test

A legal dispute has emerged within the family of former Kenyan Vice-President George Saitoti after a man claiming to be his biological son asked the court to authorise the exhumation of the late politician’s remains for DNA testing.

The man, identified as James Njage, wants the tests conducted to establish whether he is biologically related to Saitoti, who died in a helicopter crash in June 2012. However, Saitoti’s widow, Margaret Wanjiku, is opposing the application, arguing that the proposed exercise could cause emotional distress to the family.

According to reports by the Daily Nation, Wanjiku has challenged the justification for disturbing her late husband’s grave, questioning whether the exhumation would produce usable DNA samples to establish the alleged biological relationship.

She has also argued that Njage has not provided documentary evidence to support his claim that he is Saitoti’s son. Her opposition places the burden on the claimant to demonstrate sufficient grounds for seeking such a sensitive legal intervention.

For Njage, the DNA test could provide an opportunity to establish his biological identity and determine whether he has a direct family connection to the former Vice-President. The court will have to consider the competing interests, including the need to establish the truth, the evidence presented and the emotional impact on the deceased’s family.

The dispute highlights the legal and ethical challenges that arise when paternity claims are pursued after an alleged parent has died. Although DNA testing can help resolve questions of biological relationships, obtaining samples from deceased individuals may require judicial authorisation and careful consideration of the circumstances.

Saitoti was a prominent figure in Kenyan politics, having served as Vice-President and held several senior government positions during his career. His death in a helicopter crash in 2012 shocked the country.

Attention will now focus on the court’s consideration of the application and whether the evidence presented justifies the requested exhumation. The outcome could determine whether DNA testing proceeds despite the widow’s objections.

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