VIDEO: Woman Who Claimed to Be Bahati’s Mother Is Not Biologically Related to Him

By Special Correspondent | Nairobi, Kenya | March 2026

A maternity dispute that gripped Kenya for weeks came to a definitive — and emotional — close in March 2026, when DNA test results confirmed that Judith Makokha, a woman from Kakamega who had publicly claimed to be the biological mother of gospel-turned-afropop star Bahati, shares no biological relationship with the musician.

The results, processed at La Femme Health Clinic, brought an end to one of the more unusual celebrity controversies to grip the country in recent memory — but opened a new chapter for both parties, who were visibly shaken by the outcome.

A Claim That Gripped the Nation

Makokha had come forward with a deeply personal assertion: that Bahati, one of Kenya’s most recognised musical acts, was the child she had lost years ago. The claim spread rapidly across social media, drawing sympathy, scepticism, and intense public scrutiny in equal measure.

For Bahati, the allegation was not taken lightly. The singer, who has long maintained that his biological mother died when he was still a young child, agreed to undergo formal DNA testing — a decision he framed as a matter of both personal truth and respect for the woman making the claim.

The Results: No Biological Match

When the results were finally released, they were unambiguous. Scientific analysis conducted at La Femme Health Clinic found no biological link between Bahati and Judith Makokha. The two are not mother and son.

The moment the findings were disclosed, the weight of the revelation was palpable. Both Bahati and Makokha were reported to be visibly emotional — the singer confronting the finality of a question that had briefly reopened old wounds, and the woman processing the realisation that her search for her child must continue.

Bahati’s Response: A Promise to Help

Rather than treating the outcome as a closed matter, Bahati responded to the results with a gesture that drew widespread praise. Despite the negative finding, the musician pledged to assist Makokha in tracing her actual missing child — acknowledging that while she may not be his mother, her pain as a parent searching for a lost child is real.

The pledge reframed a potentially bitter ending into something more humane, and drew considerable goodwill from followers who had watched the saga unfold online.

A Story Rooted in Loss

At the heart of this story are two people shaped by grief. Bahati has spoken openly over the years about growing up without his parents — a formative experience that later drove his rise from a children’s home to national stardom. Makokha, for her part, is a mother who has not stopped searching.

The DNA test may have ruled out one possibility, but it has not resolved her quest. And in committing to support her search, Bahati has turned a moment of personal closure into an act of public compassion.

Public Reaction

The story generated significant discussion across Kenyan social media platforms, with opinions divided during the weeks the claim was in the public domain. Some questioned the basis of Makokha’s assertion; others urged empathy for a mother convinced she had found her child.

Following the results, much of the online conversation shifted toward Bahati’s offer to help — widely interpreted as a sign of maturity and generosity, particularly given the emotional complexity of the situation.

The investigation into Judith Makokha’s missing child is ongoing.