High Court orders DNA test on Fidel Odinga's alleged twins as media is allowed to report on the estate dispute case

Setback for Raila's family after ruling on Fidel inheritance fight

Tony Mukere

October 16, 2019 11:00 AM

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High Court orders DNA test on Fidel Odinga's alleged twins as media is allowed to report on the estate dispute case

The High Court in Nairobi on Wednesday morning declined to bar the press from covering the row between ODM Leader Raila Odinga's family and the widow of his deceased son Fidel Castro Odinga.

Justice Aggrey Mchelule ruled that the press had the right to publish information before the court - but warned journalists from revealing the names of the minors who are involved in the case.

Odinga's wife, Ida, and daughter Winnie, have filed a case seeking to bar Fidel's widow, Lwam Bekele from administering the deceased's multimillion estate.

Among their reasons included the claim that Fidel had sired twins with a secret lover - arguing that the two children were likely to be disinherited if Lwam was given sole administration of the estate.

Fidel died in 2015 without a will - leaving behind his widow and a son.

The twins alleged to have been sired by the late were born six months after his death and will now be subjected to a DNA test to determine their paternity.

Lwam told the court that she did not object to the two being included as beneficiaries of the estate, if there was prove that Fidel fathered them.

The case has become somewhat of a hot topic for the media after the Standard newspaper recalled one of its printed editions that had reported the inheritance row on the front page.

Another leading publication was reportedly blocked from reporting on the matter after calls were made from senior management.