KENYA – There was jubilation on Tuesday morning after a man who went missing 20 years ago was re-united with his family in Kenya.
His family found him in Rumuruti, Laikipia where he has been living with other street families in total squalor.
His mother Rachael Wanjiru says her son went missing shortly after leaving his parents house to undergo a circumcision.
He never returned with the family’s attempt at locating him ending in futility over the years.
On Tuesday when his family finally found him, he was sickly; his feet were swollen and had blisters from an unknown condition.
He was also unable to speak coherently.
His family had a hard time recognizing him but when they finally did, they were overcome with emotion.
His mother who addressed a curious crowd of onlookers broke into a tearful prayer, thanking God for finally re-uniting them.
She then- appearing to borrow from the tale of the Prodigal son from the Holy Book- picked water in a pail and washed her son’s feet, asking God to heal him.
His mother told onlookers that she had been living in poverty following the death of her husband.
She has appealed to well wishers to help in taking her son to a mental hospital for treatment as she cannot afford it.