Sigh of relief as student reunites with family one week after disappearing from hostel

Kimuka villagers offer prayers in thanksgiving for Alex Lerionga's safe return. He had disappeared last week from a Nairobi hostel. [PHOTO: PETERSON GITHAIGA]

 

There was joy and celebration at a village in Kajiado as a 19-year-old student who had disappeared a week ago reunited with his family yesterday.

 

Tears of joy flowed freely as relatives and friends sang and danced during an emotional ceremony held in Kimuka village in Kajiado West sub-county.

Alex Lerionga, a Business Management student at Kenya Institute Management, is said to have been picked last week on Friday from a hostel in Ngara, Nairobi at around 6.30pm by three men who introduced themselves as police officers, according to his roommate.

The officers are said to have asked to interrogate Lerionga for a short time over some issue outside the hostel, but he never came back.

Efforts by Lerionga’s family to trace him throughout the week were futile. They reported the mater to various security agencies and pleaded with the Government to help them trace their son, but nothing was forthcoming.

 GOOD NEWS

Area MP Moses Ole Sakuda delivered the good news to the family that their son had been found alive.

A family member who declined to be named revealed to The Standard that Lerionga had been kept in police custody for a whole week as he was being questioned on allegations that he had been recruited by the Al Shabaab militia group.

“We thank God and the security agents that he is back alive and without any harm,” said the family member.

However, Lerionga could not speak to the Press, citing his security.

His joyful mother Hannah Sankare could no hind her joy during the thanks giving prayers.

She narrated the hardship she had gone through during the search for her son.

She said her first born son has enrolled for a certificate course awaiting to join university next year.