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Man reunites with family after 20 years, then dies three days later

Tuesday, August 25th, 2020 20:30 | By
An open grave image. PHOTO/COURTESY

By KNA

A family in Gilgil Nakuru County whose son disappeared 20 years ago had their joy short-lived after the son died three days after returning home.

Stephen Njihia, 40, disappeared in the year 2000 after a family altercation.

According to Njihia's mother Teresiah Njoki, her son died as they sought medication for his swollen feet.

“We knew our long search for our brother had come to an end and we took him to hospital as his feet were swollen and he looked sickly,” narrated Teresiah Njoki.

Njihia had last week been traced to Rumuruti town in Laikipia County, where a well-wisher had rescued him from the cold streets.

His mother, Rachel Wanjiru, said the son left home in the year 2000 after an altercation with his father, Daniel Ndung’u.

The family said he burnt down his house before disappearing vowing never to return. His father died in 2015, having searched for his son for many areas but in vain.

People who knew him in Rumuruti said he had been in the town for many years doing odd jobs and spent nights at an abandoned lorry at a timber yard in the town.

“The lorry was towed away by the County Government and we thought the swelling of his feet was due to lack of a place to sleep,” said Jane Wanjiku.

Njihia, who looked mentally unstable when his family arrived to pick him, stunned the family when he positively identified them. He even recalled the river he used to cross to get to school many years back.

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