Saitoti took my son 24 years ago, claims teacher in court

A man has gone to court, claiming that the only son of former Internal Security Minister George Saitoti, is actually his own son who was stolen 24 years ago.

Mr Sebastian Maina Ngunju has asked the Nakuru Senior Principal Magistrate for leave to privately prosecute a Mrs Mary Saitoti, whom he claims to be the wife of the former minister, who died in a helicopter crash on June 10.

Prof Saitoti’s widow is called Margaret

The magistrate, Mr James Mwaniki, will rule on Wednesday whether Mr Ngunju can bring the charges.

In his affidavit, filed in court on November 8, Mr Ngunju claims that he and his wife are the parents of Mr Zackary Musengi, Mr Saitoti’s son.

They claim that the minister’s son was born to them on September 21, 1985 and was the third-born in a family of five. He further claims that his alleged son was stolen from their Subukia home.

Now he wants to be allowed to prosecute Mrs Saitoti for allegedly concealing a kidnapped person.

There is no replying affidavit from the Saitoti family.

Mr Ngunju alleged that he recognised Mr Musengi as his long lost son after he saw him on TV.

Mr Ngunju also claimed that Mr Musengi was actually born Stephen Wachira and was kidnapped three days to his third birthday by a woman who was later arrested, charged and acquitted by a Nairobi court.

Baptismal card

The primary school teacher said his son was baptised at the age of one year at a Catholic Church in Subukia and his baptismal card was annexed as an exhibit in the application.

“But I have been unable to pursue the matter after receiving threats over the same issue,” said Mr Ngunju, represented by lawyer Harry Gakinya. He said he reported the abduction to his area police station, but the police allegedly refused to act.

In his affidavit, the teacher, who is married to a nurse, said the area chief mobilised residents to look for his son, but the search was fruitless, prompting him to report the matter to the District Criminal Investigations Department headquarters in Nakuru Town.

He further narrated that the main suspect, his neighbour, was arrested and charged in Nairobi through the intervention of the then Director of Criminal Investigations, Mr Noah arap Too.

He claims that during the hearing of the criminal case against his neighbour, the investigating officer told him he had taken his son.

“I have never stopped searching for my son and at one time, I tried working as a mason at Saitoti’s home with the hope of seeing my child but I was unsuccessful,” he alleged.

He alleged that when he saw the minister’s son, he recognised him. “To my surprise it was him, he resembles my children and without any doubt, I recognised him,” claimed the man.