Former President Mwai Kibaki and the late Stephen Mutai M'Imanyara(circled) [Photo: Courtesy]

The body of former Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) boss Stephen Mutai M’Imanyara’s could be exhumed if a man claiming to be his son is granted orders by the High Court in Meru.

Mr Lee Kimathi who is claiming to be Mutai’s son wants his body exhumed to settle a paternity claim and enable him to inherit part of his properties.

In his application filed by Thuita Kiiru Advocates on February 28, Kimathi is seeking orders to allow pathologist Dr Perminus Minda Okemwa to exhume the body and obtain DNA samples.

Mutai was buried at his home in Kathera village in South Imenti subcounty in January, 2018.

Former Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA) boss Stephen Mutai M’Imanyara [Photo: Courtesy]

The former KTDA chairman was one of Meru’s richest sons with over 1,000 acres under tea as well as buildings in Meru town and Nairobi.

Kimathi is also seeking a court order to obtain DNA samples from lawyer Kiogora Mutai and Dr Bertha Kaimenyi — two of Imanyara’s children who he has named as respondents in the case alongside their mother Honesty Kanyua.

Kimathi, who claims he is a son of Prof Judy Njue and the late Imanyara has no problem with the two picking their own pathologist for the procedure.

He said the DNA is necessary for the court to conclusively determine whether he is a son of the deceased and settle the paternity issue once and for all.

“I believe that it is in very bad faith, feigned ignorance or wishful thinking for the respondents to purport that I am not the deceased’s son,” he said in his application.