Emotional Re-union in Machakos Village

By Winfred Gumbo

On Saturday, October 15, 2022, emotions ran high as a family got re-united with their kin who was reported missing in 2015.

At Mercy Servants of the Poor Institution; a home managed by Sister Mary Musembi in Kithyoko, Machakos County, Monica Nduku and her daughter Anne Twili were elated to meet Mwamali Muthiani; a son and a brother who they vividly reminisced from the last day they saw him. Warm hugs and tears of joy rolled down their cheeks as they assumed they had lost Muthiani forever after visiting several farewell homes to no avail.

Shortly after, Sister Musembi took Mr. Muthiani to his family members, where they sat down to catch up. Ms. Twili and Mr. Muthiani could not hide the emotions of happily re-united siblings.

Lunch was served but the daughter and mother could barely partake the meal but they managed to share afterwards. Amidst all, Mr. Muthiani asked her sister how their father was doing. Sadly, they had lost him while Mr. Muthiani was away from home.

Ms. Monica Nduku; a mother to 7 children, 5 girls and 2 boys says this is one of the best days of her life. The love and joy of a mother was clearly in the air as she embraced her son warmly. “My son got a well-wisher after completing class 8 to join Form 1 in Nairobi. The well-wisher who I barely have memory of promised to enroll him in school, little did I know that was the beginning of misfortunes,” said Ms. Nduku.

“After coming back home well for the first time and leaving for the city, a neighbor met him in the streets of Kibera, Nairobi where he decided to take him home after he noticed the state of his mind,” said Ms. Monica Mr. Muthiani’s sister.

“Shortly after, he started hallucinating and could barely associate with the rest of the family members. He used to eat insects, rodents and all sorts of weird creatures he could trap or hunt,” recounted Ms. Twili. “One day, our mother went to the market and came back to a completely burnt home. It was unfathomable that our house was razed to the ground by my brother. Upon learning about the incident, I called our mum who indicated that she had left home to never return,” she added.

Mr. Muthiani who had some memories about the past could not help but look at his sister’s face with concern. He said he remembered some incidents but could barely remember others.

“I remember not leaving home jovially. Once I got to Nairobi, I used to sleep in the streets of Nairobi West where I used to beg for money and passers-by could give me some coins for survival. I could find warm corners to spend the night till one day I was involved in an accident and I was taken to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH),” recounted Mr. Muthiani.

HoU Medical Social Work, KNH Mr. Kandie Kelwon (L) Mrs. Monica Nduku (2nd L), Mr. Mwamali Muthiani (C) Ms. Anne Twili (2nd R), Mercy Servants of the Poor Institution Manager, Sister Mary Musembi after the re-union

PHOTO | WINFRED GUMBO

According to Mr. Kelwon Kandie, the Head of Unit, Medical Social Work at KNH, Mr. Muthiani was picked along Lusaka Road by Mr. Elijah Mutuku of Delta Ambulance after he was involved in a hit-and-run road traffic accident (RTA). Contact tracing of his next of kin through finger prints search at the National Registrar Bureau returned no trace.

“Upon recovery, the patient was later placed at Mercy Servants of the Poor Institution on 4th November 2021, after unsuccessfully tracing his relatives. While at the home, he improved and managed to recall the names of his next of kin and the home area,” said Mr. Kandie.

Sister Mary Musembi who had been hosting Muthiani as she fondly calls him recounted her stay with him.

“He did not need any medication during his stay apart from when he fell ill. I noticed him regaining his memory early this year. I carefully monitored the words he frequently repeated and that is how I managed to contact the Assistant Chief at his village who assisted in tracing the family,” said Sister Musembi.

Sister Musembi gathered the caregivers at Mercy Servants of the Poor Institution a few minutes to 3pm to bid farewell to Mr. Muthiani. The family members thanked the team as Sister Musembi prepared to drop them at a nearby bus stage to get means back home.

From Newsline, we would like to thank Sister Musembi for the noble work she does to the poor by providing a shelter, clothing and feeding them and wish Mr. Muthiani a happy stay with the family.

NB: Mercy Servants of the Poor Institution is currently a home to 12 unknown patients from Kenyatta National Hospital.

MAIN PHOTO | WINFRED GUMBO Ms. Anne Twili (L), sister to Mr. Mwamali Muthiani (C), and their mother Mrs. Monica Nduku (R), when they re-united at Mercy Servants of the Poor Institution in Kithyoko, Machakos County Service Week