Tears flowed freely and joy engulfed Nyalenda-Kisumu City after a family reunited with their son, who went missing aged 4 years.
After years of pain, anxiety, and hopes, Jacob Odhiambo (found son), David Okiki (father) and Lillian Atieno (mother) persistent prayers were answered when they miraculously reunited yesterday.
Odhiambo, initially named Peter Okiki, disappeared without a trace from their Kibera informal settlement home in Nairobi.
During an interview with the press at his new home, Odhiambo said he went through trials and tribulations at the hands of strangers.
“The ‘Good Samaritan’ who picked me up in Nairobi later left in Migori Town. Another lady took me in, but she travelled with me in the company of another boy, only to be abandoned at the Kisumu bus station,” he recalled with a tinge of pain.
When lady luck came calling, Odhiambo joined a children’s remand home where he lived after staying with a stranger in the lakeside city for some days.
“After reaching class four, I was later taken in by St. Philip’s Neri Children’s Home. They have been taking very good care of me, and now I am happy that we are united as a family,” Odhiambo said.
Okiki, Jacob’s father stated that he endured a long and painful search but failed to locate his missing son.
“It was only after a close relative got wind of his whereabouts that they managed to trace him,” Okiki explained as he battled with tears.
He said that his son’s disappearance had caused them nightmares and so much pain to the point of affecting their personal health.
Echoing similar sentiments, her mother, Lilian, confirmed that their life has not been easy.
“I am very happy that we have found our long-lost firstborn son,” she said with a broad smile.
Speaking after coordinating a successful reunion, Vincent Ochieng, Program Manager at St. Philip’s Neri Children’s Home, noted that it was an uphill task tracing Odhiambo’s real parents.
“I engaged various government agencies to find a solution regarding his case. Odhiambo provided the much-needed support to ensure he was properly reintegrated with the family.”
As part of reintegration, the children’s home management promised to continue visiting the family routinely until Jacob completed high school.
