My son? Not true, says Karume in DNA case

Former Cabinet Minister Njenga Karume has denied that he is the father of a 45-year-old man who has sued him seeking a paternity test.

In response to a suit by Mr Edwin Thuo, who claims to be his son, Mr Karume says he cannot be the father because he has never been involved in a relationship with his mother, Ms Lucy Thuo, as alleged.

“At no time was I involved in a relationship with Lucy Thuo,” Mr Karume says. He says the suit by Mr Thuo is a fraud and an extortion bid on him.

Mr Thuo filed a suit two weeks ago seeking orders to compel Mr Karume to undergo a DNA test to confirm whether he is his biological father.

Mr Karume, however, acknowledges that Ms Thuo is a distant cousin of his wife who died some time ago.

Due to the relationship, Ms Thuo received financial assistance from Mr Karume as a distant family member.

And it has emerged from Mr Karume’s reply that  Ms Thuo and her son had jointly filed a similar suit in  December 2007 seeking  to have  Mr Karume compelled to undergo a DNA test.

The suit was later withdrawn after the two and Mr Karume entered an agreement. (READ: What’s in a title? Ask Karume)

In the consent agreement of December 5, 2008, to discontinue the suit under civil procedure rules, Mr Thuo and his mother were paid Sh5 million.

Mr Thuo and his mother agreed to wholly withdraw and discontinue the suit. They further renounced and abandoned all claims against Mr Karume arising from the suit.

The two also agreed to indemnify Mr Karume, his estate and heirs from all claims and demands at that time or in future.

The claim by Mr Thuo in the suit that was withdrawn was, in essence, an extortion bid, says Mr Karume.

Mr Thuo was then a 40-year-old man and could not seek the so-called paternal support. “The suit was a scheme to seek a financial gain,” Mr Karume says.

He further denies allegations that Ms Thuo was an employee at his agricultural holdings as claimed in 1966.

Mr Karume has raised a preliminary objection seeking to have the suit by Mr Thuo thrown out.

In the objection, he argues that Mr Thuo’s case seeks to advance issues while in essence it is an extortion bid.

The petition, he adds,  is a circumvention of the pleadings and agreement  recorded in the  case that was withdrawn.

Mr Thuo, in the case, accused Mr Karume of refusing to acknowledge him as his son despite his repeated attempts for recognition.

He says he intended to change his surname and adopt Karume on official documents. The case is due in court on Thursday.