More than 20 couples had come forward to claim the so-called miracle babies by yesterday, as identity tests started in Nairobi.
Ten more couples reported to the CID headquarters and got letters that allowed them to visit Nairobi Children’s Home, where the 21 children are in the State’s care.
DNA tests on blood and tissue samples taken from the babies and the women from whom they were seized by police resumed, after a week of confusion, with no clear indication on which department was to carry out the investigations. The Government Chemist is conducting the tests.
Government spokesman Alfred Mutua said the results of the DNA tests would be known in the next two days.
“The next stage will be to do blood tests of the parents who have come forward claiming some of the children,” he added.
The tests rely on genetic fingerprinting – patterns unique to individuals that can be analysed from blood, saliva and body tissue – as a means of identification. By comparing these patterns, scientists can link parents to their offspring. The children were seized by police from the Komarock home of Mr Michael Odera and his wife, Eddah. Others were at the Mountain View residence of Pastor Gilbert Deya. Mrs Odera and the pastor’s wife, Mary, say they delivered the babies after prayers.
Mrs Deya claims to be the mother of nine of the children, while Mrs Odera says she gave birth to 13, two of who she claimed had died. Ms Miriam Nyeiko is laying claim to one child.
Among those who came to claim the children yesterday was postal worker Josiah Ouma Onyango and his wife, Jennifer Achieng Auma, whose nine-year-old son Jack disappeared in Komarock Estate last year.
Dandora resident Lilian Akoth and husband Luke Nyangoto are looking for their three-year-old child, who has been missing since July, 2002.
Ms Konjesha Failozi and her husband Cyprano Arnest, a second-hand clothes dealer at Gikomba market, lost their baby in 1998.
Grandmother Esther Nduku Wambura travelled from Limuru to search for her four-year-old grandchild who disappeared in the city’s Industrial Area. The child’s mother, Ms Pauline Kanini, is at Mathare hospital.
Others were Ms Irene Nafula and husband Timothy Ahaza Ishuga of Ngong; Ms Mical Aokoand husband Alois Oketo; Mr Julius Gathee and wife Josephine Nyambura; Ms Grace Nyambura and husband Stanley Wainaina who live in Kasarani went looking for their baby who disappeared at Pumwani Maternity during during birth in 2001 as did Esther Mukami who also lost her baby at the same maternity hospital in 2002.
Miriam Kavulani and her husband Alex Lundu travelled all the way from Mombasa in search of their 1 month old baby who disappeared in June this year.
Mary Mwikali, a Mukuru Kwa Njenga resident is looking for her 4 year old baby boy Simon Mwikali who disappeared in September 2003 while Penina Juma travelled from Nyando in Kisumu in search of her son Simon Onyango who disappeared in June 2003.
Catherine Auma went looking for her two month old baby who disappeared from her Kibera home in 2002. Michael Ouma Juma, a resident of Kayole was looking for his 4 year old son Paul Juma.
Kevina Wainaina too went looking for her for year old son Simon WElimo who disappeared from their Huruma home in April 2004 while Edward Odhiambo said his 11 year old son Collin Ondalo disappeared from their Eastleigh estate residence.
All the claimants will have to undergo the mandatory blood DNA tests to establish parentage of the children behind bishop Gilbert Deya’s miracle babies saga being investigated by UK and Kenyan police.