A BBC World of Secrets and BBC Africa Eye investigation has uncovered long-term impact on Kenyan families from British soldiers fathering and leaving children.
The findings are detailed in a new season of the World of Secrets podcast, which examines cases spanning more than 70 years near the British Army Training Unit in Nanyuki.
This investigation identifies nearly 100 children believed to have been fathered by British soldiers since the 1950s, with some facing poverty and exclusion within their communities.
It follows legal and scientific efforts to trace paternity using DNA databases, helping some families finally identify fathers.
Reporting centres on the work of international children’s rights lawyer James Netto and Kenyan human rights lawyer Kelvin Kubai, alongside geneticist Professor Denise Syndercombe Court. Together, they supported families looking for answers about identity and heritage.
James said: “These people aren’t looking for a quick buck or a payout. They want to know who their dads are…It’s your fundamental right to know who your family is, your identity and your heritage.”
The podcast includes personal stories from those affected. Some individuals grew up believing their fathers were dead, while others made repeated attempts to locate them without success. In several cases, DNA matching has now connected families with relatives in the UK.
Kelvin said: “This is the beginning of justice for children who’ve been in the circumstances of this small number of cases that we’ve been able to prove here in Kenya.”
The series also features contributions from one former soldier who acknowledged contact from his daughter but said he was unable to respond at the time due to personal circumstances after leaving the military.
Across five episodes, the podcast explores themes including racial identity, parental absence, and the power dynamics between soldiers and local women. It runs alongside a BBC Africa Eye documentary examining the same issue.
Ivana Davidovic, who presents the podcast, said the investigation looked to address questions of accountability and long-term consequences linked to Britain’s military presence in Kenya.
The British Army told the BBC that paternity cases are considered private matters but said the UK government works with local authorities where claims are made. It added that personnel receive clear guidance on expected behaviour.
The first episode is available on all podcast platforms from today, 20 April, with all episodes released weekly or as a full series on BBC Sounds in the UK.
The series will also air weekly on BBC World Service radio from Wednesday 22 April.
