A major new investigation by the BBC has uncovered evidence that British soldiers stationed in Nanyuki, Kenya, fathered children with local women over decades and, in many cases, abandoned them—leaving a legacy affecting multiple generations.
The findings are detailed in a new season of World of Secrets and a companion documentary from BBC Africa Eye titled Searching for Soldier Dad.
The two-year investigation reveals that children—ranging in age from just three to 70—were fathered by men serving at the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), located near Nanyuki, around 200 kilometres north of Nairobi, dating back to the 1950s.
Working with UK-based children’s rights lawyer James Netto and Kenyan human rights lawyer Kelvin Kubai, alongside geneticist Denise Syndercombe Court from King’s College London, the Beeb team used DNA ancestry databases to help identify potential fathers.
“For these families, it’s not about money—it’s about identity,” said Netto. “It’s your fundamental right to know who your family is.”
The investigation has already identified nearly 100 individuals believed to have been fathered by British soldiers. Many of those affected have faced poverty, stigma and lifelong uncertainty over their identity, while some have now been able to trace relatives in the UK.
Among those featured are Cathy, who grew up believing her father had died after he left her mother without warning; Yvonne, who discovered her father was alive in England through a DNA match; and Peter, who endured poverty and discrimination before eventually abandoning his search—only for new evidence to emerge years later.
Kubai described the work as “the beginning of justice,” adding: “Your DNA will always be living… and as long as it’s living, we’ll always find you.”
The series also includes testimony from one father, Phil, a former soldier who admitted he failed to respond when contacted by his daughter due to struggles adjusting to civilian life. “I know a lifetime’s not going to make it up for, but at least I can try,” he said.
Presented by Ivana Davidovic, World of Secrets explores not only individual stories but wider issues including racial identity, parental abandonment and the power dynamics between British soldiers and Kenyan women, some of whom were in vulnerable situations.
Davidovic said the investigation raised urgent questions about accountability and the long-term consequences of Britain’s post-colonial military presence in Kenya, adding it had been “deeply important” to work with families who entrusted the team with their stories.
Peter Murimi, Executive Producer at BBC Africa Eye, said the project aimed to give a voice to those long unheard: “Many of these children have grown up not knowing who their fathers are… this is one of those stories that needed to be told.”
In response, the British Army told the BBC that paternity claims are considered a private matter but said it cooperates with local authorities where such claims arise. It added that all personnel stationed in Kenya are given clear guidance on expected standards of behaviour.
All five episodes of World of Secrets: Searching for Soldier Dad are available now on BBC Sounds, with the documentary also streaming on BBC iPlayer and airing on BBC Two as part of the Global Eye strand.
