Health Ministry Denies Reports CS Nakhumicha Has Ordered For Mandatory DNA Tests For Newborns
- A claim went viral on social media that the Health Ministry sanctioned mandatory DNA testing among newborns
- Flagging as fake, the docket under CS Susan Nakhumicha warned the members of the public against sharing unfounded pronouncements on critical matters
- By definition, DNA paternity testing is the use of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) profiles to determine whether an individual is the biological parent of another individual
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Kai Eli, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Nairobi: The Ministry of Health under CS Susan Nakhumicha has renounced the claims that DNA testing would be mandatory in Kenya.
Some quarters online had shared the assertion, misleading unwary Kenyans.
"DNA tests for newborns are now mandatory nationwide," said the source while attributing it to the CS.
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What did Nakhumicha's docket say on mandatory DNA test
To clarify things, the ministry flagged the foregoing as fake, cautioning the citizenry against spreading unfounded information on critical matters.
"Stop the spread of fake news! Verify information before sharing. Be part of the solution," MOH said on X, formerly Twitter.
By definition, DNA paternity testing involves using deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) profiles to determine whether an individual is the biological parent of another individual.
The technology has been in Kenya for a while, but its popularity has grown immensely over the past few years.
This is because more people are finding the need to take DNA tests for several reasons; including those embroiled in child maintenance cases, sharing inheritance, court orders and even when a child's paternity is in doubt after a disagreement in marriage.
Types of DNA tests
Apart from the standard DNA paternity test, there are several other types of DNA tests.
A prenatal DNA test determines whether a particular man is the biological father of an unborn child.
A sibling DNA test is conducted to determine if two individuals are biological siblings.
It is usually carried out if it is impossible to test the alleged father.
Ancestry DNA test helps you to find out your ancestral origin.
An infidelity DNA test helps you find out whether cheating has taken place.
In this form, people suspecting their partners of infidelity can go to the laboratory with a variety of different samples which have roused their suspicions, including nail clippings.
Forensic DNA test helps in solving crimes.
DNA samples are taken from objects at the crime scene for laboratory examination to identify the criminals.
Autosomal DNAtests can tell you about your ethnicity and find matches to living relatives within the past five generations.
A cousin DNAtest can show whether two people are biological first cousins.
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Heakth CS Susan Nakhumicha in a past event.
No, Kenya’s health cabinet secretary Nakhumicha didn't say ‘DNA tests
Ministry of Health on Twitter: "Health CS @Nakhumicha_S, PS
