DNA Confirms Kenyan Girls Separated at Birth 20 Years Ago are Identical Twins
A DNA test has confirmed that two Kenyan girls believed to have been separated at birth at Kakamega County Referral Hospital about 20 years ago are identical twins.
Lancet Kenya, which carried out the test, released the DNA results on Saturday, confirming that Sharon Mitekwa and Melon Lutenyo are twin sisters.
The results were released two months after their bizarre story hit the headlines.
“They share identical DNA profiles, with the 23 allelic loci tested show 100% perfect match, which is consistent with the two being biologically, twins,” the report reads.
DNA samples from four other people including Mevis Imbaya, Rosemary Khaveleli Onyango, Angeline Omina Matias, and Wilson Lutah Maruti were used during the examination.
Lancet Kenya also confirmed that Mevis Imbaya and Melon, who grew up thinking they were twins, are not biologically related.
“Mevis Imbaya exhibits a compatible obligatory maternal and paternal allelic profile with that of Angeline Omina Matias and Wilson Lutah Maruti respectively,” the report said.
Sharon was brought up in Nairobi by Angeline Onyango, who was originally thought to be her mother while Melon grew up in Kakamega with her biological mum Rosemary Onyango.
The twins were reportedly separated at birth in 1999 at Kakamega County Referral Hospital.
Speaking to the media a few weeks ago, Rosemary said one of her twins was taken ill when she delivered and had to leave her at the hospital. She would visit the hospital daily to breastfeed her then go back home.
She believed this could be the point that her baby was switched.
Melon and Sharon found out about their striking semblance after meeting on Facebook before they decided to find each other.
During the April holiday, the two asked their parents if they could stay in Nairobi together.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) said it would investigate what could have transpired at the Kakamega County Hospital 20 years ago.
Speaking after the release of the results, the two families said they were yet to make a decision on what to do next.