Court declines to stop Ntimama burial plans to allow DNA test
George Njoroge, who claims to be the late Ntimama's son, addresses the press on September 10, 2016 outside a Nairobi court. Mr Njoroge ignited a paternity test tussle when he claimed that he was the late politician’s son. PHOTO | PAUL WAWERU | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Mr Njoroge said he wanted to actively participate in the burial proceedings but was apprehensive that he would face hostility.
- He claimed that his mother only accepted to disclose the identity of his father in 1998 after he put much pressure on her.
Burial arrangements for former Narok North MP William ole Ntimama are going on after the High Court on Friday declined to issue orders halting the funeral plans.
Mr George Kariuki Njoroge aka George Kariuki Ntimama, 60, ignited a paternity test tussle, claiming that he was the late politician’s son.
Through lawyer Nicholas Njagi, he insisted that the politician was his biological father and he, therefore, wanted a DNA test done to ascertain the claim before he is buried.
Mr Njoroge said he wanted to actively participate in the burial proceedings but was apprehensive that he would face hostility.
However, Justice Joseph Onguto ruled that he was not sufficiently convinced that a DNA test necessitated a suspension of the September 14 burial preparations.
“I find that there is no urgency in this matter, the tests could have been done in the last one year considering if the deceased was in touch with Njoroge,” said Justice Onguto.
Mr Njoroge has sued Ms Dorcas Pedelai Ntimama, the Attorney-General, the Kilimani location Chief and Lee Funeral home.
Born in December 1956, he alleged that his mother Rebecca Wanjiku Ngibia, took care of him single-handedly and kept his paternity a secret because she did not want to embarrass the politician.
He claimed that his mother only agreed to disclose the identity of his father in 1998 after he put much pressure on her.
Mr Njoroge also claimed that during the 2007 General Election, Mr Ntimama requested him to popularise his ODM party in central Kenya and also advised him to vie for the Limuru parliamentary seat.
He said he was given Sh2 million and two vehicles for the campaign.
Ntimama’s family, through lawyers Mark Ngatia and Omwanza Ombati, said the case ought to be struck out since it has been taken to court after 60 years and therefore was malicious.
