Kin in agony as family head goes missing in South Sudan

Kisumu, Kenya: A woman and her eight children are in agony after her husband went missing in South Sudan where he has worked as an administrator at Lich University for four years.

Patricia Akoth's family has been desperate since August 9, when her husband David Nyawanda, got a call from senior Government officials to report to work.

Speaking to The Standard, Ms Akoth said the last communication she had with her husband was on August 12, when he left Juba for Bentiu on official duty.

"He left Kenya for Juba on August 8, and called us to report that he had arrived safely. Before he left, he told us that the university employees had asked for their July salaries and being an administrator he had to go and facilitate payment, forcing him to cut short his leave," recalled his wife.

The family has established that Nyawanda travelled from Juba to Bentiu on a Government chartered plane in the company of high profile State officials and that their travelling to war-torn Bentiu State was authorised by the State Secretary General.

"In the State chartered plane he was in the company of the State Secretary Advisor, Minister for Information, a deputy governor, MPs and their bodyguards.

A total of 13 people left for Bentiu where they were to pick staff salaries," said Ms Akoth.

What, however, shocked the family is that of the 13 on the flight, only 12 came back safe and sound.

"Nobody is giving the family accurate information; some say he was killed when rebels attacked his hotel on August 15, while others say he drowned while attempting to cross River Nile," says Ms Akoth, in tears.

Nelson Otieno, her eldest son, took the initiative to make inquires bout his missing father in Juba and other places in South Sudan.

"I have visited the Kenyan Embassy in South Sudan several times but not even a single official has given me audience," says Otieno.

"I have the last message he sent me in Dholuo. "Nyasachi majaloch osemiya ndege koro awuok" (Your victorious God has given me a plane, I am leaving). It hurts me anytime I read it," says Ms Akoth.

She believes she will see her husband again. "Widows bury their husbands, but I have not buried my husband. I trust God that one day he will come home," she says.

Efforts to get a comment from the Kenyan embassy in South Sudan were futile as our calls went unanswered.