Man who left Kisii home 34 years ago to work in Baringo reunites with family

When he left his home and travelled to look for a job in Kabartonjo of Baringo County, little did Joseph Nyaanga Andima know that he will not see his family from Bonyando in Kisii County for over 30 years.

Infact his family had declared him dead after he vanished mysteriously and despite searching in various morgues and hospitals, they eventually gave up hope.

At the age of 35, Mr Nyaanga embarked on a journey that led him to work as a plant operator during the construction of Eldoret Airport, Kabartonjo-Kipsaraman road, and Kirandich Dam in the 1990s.

Eventually, he settled in Kabartonjo town, remarried and started a new family.

But in a strange twist of fate, thanks to the help of Loruk OCS Moses Ondigi, who recognised Mr Nyaanga as being from the same area he came from, was able to reunite with his original family from Kisii.

"Despite having not seen him for many years, I was able to recognise him and connected him with his family in Kisii," said Mr Ondigi.

Emotions ran high after his original family travelled all the way to Kabartonjo to be reunited with their long-lost father and take him back to his ancestral home to meet with the rest of his relatives, marking a joyous occasion which was also witnessed by Kelyo Location Senior Chief Symon Cheraste.

There has been an upsurge in the number of people who have disappeared in mysterious circumstances.

Whenever such happens in society, it causes agony among families about their whereabouts.

According to Baringo County Human Rights Consortium Coordinator Kipruto Kimosop, many people are unaware of the procedure to follow when someone disappears.

He said that when a case of a missing person is reported to their office, they usually advice the affected family on the next course of action to take.

“We usually weigh the circumstances including the possibility of the missing persons being found alive. According to Kenyan Law, if someone goes missing for seven(7) years, the family can write to the Attorney General where death can be declared through assumptions,” explained Mr Kimosop.