One woman, two men and two DNA tests

Nakuru,Kenya: The controversy and drama that has surrounded a paternity suit between a pharmacist and a middle-aged woman in a Nakuru court is unmatched.

Accusations and counter-accusations have dictated the slow pace of the maintenance suit facing Dr John Ndegwa, a pharmacist based in Nyeri County. The case was heard afresh before Senior Resident Magistrate Judicaster Nthuku after another magistrate withdrew from handling the matter after drama ensued when he ordered for a second DNA test.

Beatrice Wanja sued Dr Ndegwa in 2011asking the court to compel the pharmacist to pay child maintenance. However, things took a different turn when Ndegwa introduced another man, Samuel Wainaina, into the already contentious paternity suit.

Dr Ndegwa strongly contested the allegations before court that he fathered a child with Wanja while working at the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital in Nakuru. Dr Ndegwa told the court the DNA results from the Government laboratory had been altered to reflect that he was the father of the three year-old girl.

Through his lawyer Waiganjo Mwangi, the doctor said though he had no problem raising the child if it was proved to be his, he doubted the integrity of the results produced by the government chemist.

“I won’t have any issue providing for maintenance of my child even if they are more than one. What the court should ascertain is if I am the father,” he added.

While giving his testimony, Dr Ndegwa strongly contested the report by the Government analyst Henry Kiptoo which showed 99.9 per cent probability he was the father of the minor.

Dr Ndegwa produced evidence challenging the integrity of the Government chemist and quoted precedents where results had been questioned.

Interestingly, Ndegwa told the court in May this year that on December 4, 2009 he mysteriously found Wanja in his bed.

“I don’t know how she landed on my bed on December 4, 2009. She even refused to leave my house and I had to get the help of the police,” he affirmed.

He also alleged that the night before he found Wanja in his bed he had gone drinking with friends at a local club in Nakuru town. He claimed that his drink might have been laced with drugs. He further told the court he was never in any relationship with Wanja as alleged and on December 4, 2009 after a night out she found Wanja in his bedroom.

He added that he was ready to pay for the child maintenance if a second paternity test showed him as the father.

Wanja on her part insists they had intimate relations with the doctor, a relationship that she claims was cultivated while working for a computer firm which was installing computers at the referral hospital. Wanja testified that she had no doubt Dr Ndegwa was the biological father of her daughter.

Wanja told the court she first met with Dr Ndegwa at provincial general hospital before while she working as a computer technician with a company in Nakuru.

“I met with Dr Ndegwa in 2004 while he was working at PGH in Nakuru. We got into a relationship for three years from 2007 before breaking up,” she told the court.

She told the court since Dr Ndegwa was the biological father, he should meet the cost of maintenance of her daughter which amounted to Sh54,000.

“I am seeking for maintenance for the child that is food Sh15,000, rent Sh9,000, house help Sh4,000, clothing Sh5,000, entertainment Sh10,000, medical expenses Sh12,000 and Sh2000 for water and electricity,” Wanja told the court.

Wanja told the court she was self-employed with an income of Sh20,000 and since the child was born she has been undergoing difficulties in maintaining the child.