Kenyan media personality Eric Mboya has sparked debate on social media after claiming that 90 per cent of marriages in Kenya could collapse if men decided to conduct DNA tests on their children.
Mboya made the statement in a Facebook post on Tuesday, October 20, 2026, arguing that society often focuses on men’s infidelity while overlooking questions surrounding paternity and trust within relationships.
His remarks have reignited conversations about DNA testing, marital honesty and the emotional consequences of discovering that a man may not be the biological father of a child he has raised.
However, the 90 per cent figure remains an unverified claim. Mboya did not provide a national survey, scientific study or official statistics to support his prediction about Kenyan marriages.
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1. Eric Mboya makes controversial claim about marriage
In his Facebook post, Mboya challenged what he described as a common perception that men are primarily responsible for infidelity in relationships.
He argued that DNA testing was bringing previously hidden questions about biological parentage into public discussion, suggesting that widespread testing could expose secrets within some families.
Mboya wrote: “In marriage they always claim that only men cheat but DNA is proving otherwise. It seems wanaume are somehow innocent. What has been hidden for years is finally being brought to the public. If every man decides to do DNA in Kenya, 90% of marriages zitaisha.”
His statement has drawn attention because it suggests that nine out of every 10 marriages could be affected if men decided to establish the biological paternity of their children.
However, the claim represents Mboya’s personal opinion and should not be interpreted as a verified statistic about Kenyan families.
DNA testing can establish whether a tested man is a child’s biological father, but a test result does not automatically establish the circumstances surrounding a relationship or determine whether a marriage will survive.
2. DNA testing has become a growing topic of discussion in Kenya
Paternity testing has attracted considerable public interest in Kenya, particularly through social media conversations, family disputes and discussions involving child support and inheritance.
Some people seek DNA tests to resolve doubts about biological relationships, while others require testing to address legal questions concerning parentage.
A May 2026 report by K24 Digital on the cost of DNA testing in Kenya described the growing interest in paternity testing and explained that costs vary according to the type of test and the laboratory conducting it.
The report noted that DNA testing may be sought for personal reassurance or for legal purposes.
However, increased public interest does not establish how common paternity discrepancies are across the country’s entire population. People who request DNA tests may already have specific concerns, meaning their results cannot automatically represent the experiences of all Kenyan families.
The distinction is important because widely discussed individual cases can create an impression that a problem is more widespread than available evidence demonstrates.
3. No verified evidence supports the 90 per cent figure
Mboya’s suggestion that 90 per cent of Kenyan marriages could collapse following DNA testing is the most striking part of his statement.
Yet no supporting national data was provided in the post to establish that nine out of every 10 marriages would end because of DNA test results.
Reliable research into the prevalence of paternity discrepancies would require representative data, clear definitions and an appropriate research methodology. Figures drawn only from people who request paternity tests cannot automatically be applied to the entire population.
It is also important to distinguish between discovering a paternity discrepancy and a marriage ending.
Even where a DNA test establishes that a man is not a child’s biological father, the outcome for the family can vary considerably. Some couples may separate, while others may choose to continue their relationship and work through the discovery.
Consequently, Mboya’s prediction should be treated as an opinion that has generated discussion, rather than proof that most Kenyan marriages involve disputed paternity.
4. Paternity disputes can have emotional and family consequences
Questions about biological parentage can create difficult situations for couples and children, especially when the discovery is unexpected.
A man who learns that he is not a child’s biological father may experience shock, anger, confusion or a loss of trust. The discovery may also raise questions about the history of the relationship and future parenting arrangements.
Children can also be affected, particularly when adults handle the situation through public accusations or expose private family information online.
For this reason, paternity disputes require sensitivity and careful handling. Confidential professional advice and counselling may help families navigate difficult conversations, while legal advice may be appropriate when questions about parental responsibility or inheritance arise.
The Kenya Medical Research Institute’s Human DNA Identification Laboratory explains that paternity testing can be conducted for personal knowledge or legal purposes, with legal tests requiring more stringent procedures to ensure the results can be relied upon in court.
This distinction matters because a DNA test is not merely a subject for social media debate; in some circumstances, the results can have significant legal and personal consequences.
5. Eric Mboya’s remarks reignite debate about fidelity and trust
Mboya’s comments have added to wider discussions about gender expectations, infidelity and honesty in relationships.
His argument challenges the tendency to discuss cheating primarily in relation to men. However, a paternity discrepancy alone does not establish every detail of a relationship or prove that all parties knowingly engaged in deception.
Similarly, DNA test results cannot reasonably be used to draw conclusions about all women, all men or the state of marriage throughout Kenya.
The debate also raises questions about how couples should approach doubts about parentage and whether testing should be considered routinely or in response to particular circumstances.
For now, Mboya’s 90 per cent claim remains unverified, and there is insufficient evidence in the statement to establish how many Kenyan marriages would end if men conducted DNA tests.
His remarks have nevertheless brought renewed attention to the sensitive intersection of biological parentage, trust and family relationships.
As the conversation continues online, the distinction between personal opinion and reliable evidence remains essential.
