By JOSEPH MUCHIRI

 Embu,Kenya:A family in Bondeni Estate in Embu town has been agonising over the disappearance of their last-born son two months ago.

For Ernest Mugo Kamau’s family, life has never been the same since six-and-a-half-year old Oliver Ngiri was kidnapped by three men in a silver saloon car early last month.

Ngiri was with his elder brother, aged eight, when the men invited him into their car on that fateful afternoon and has not been seen since.

Kamau who works as a driver at Tebere Provision Stores said the two children had passed by his place of work on their way home after school.

“Ngiri was a nursery pupil at Urban Primary School. They passed by my work place at around 2pm on that day and I gave them some stuff to take home. On getting home at 6.30pm I learnt he had been kidnapped,” said Kamau.

According to Kamau, the elder son said he had been walking some distance ahead of his brother but on looking behind he saw strangers lead his sibling into a car and drive away.

“The boy described one of the men as middle-aged. He, however, did not tell anyone about the kidnap of Ngiri until when I got home more than two hours later,” said the father.

He said he reported the matter to the police about 7.30pm on that day and police asked for Ngiri’s photograph which they would use during their search.

But two days later when he went to check with the police on the progress of the search, his son had not been found.

However the issue is surrounded by intrigues as Kamau claimed a week before the disappearance a stranger had called him at 1.30am demanding money.

“I was called for about three minutes by a man who declined to identify himself on a number I have given to police.

He did not state the amount he wanted or the reason for demanding the money but when I told him I had no money, he said he would rather concentrate with people who have money,” said Kamau.

Kamau said he also reported this mysterious call to the police who said they would find out whom the number was registered to. He said when he tried calling the number it did not go through but was later advised by police not to call the number again.

fruitless search

Kamau who separated from his wife in 2008 said the family has looked frantically for the child including in his in-laws place in Kiambu to no avail.

He is now appealing for help from anyone who could have information on his son’s whereabouts.

“He only speaks Kiswahili but can understand Kiembu and Kikuyu. I would be happy to have my son back so that I can educate him and bring him up as a normal child. We have been in agony wondering what happened to the boy as we have searched for him everywhere but in vain,” said the father.

Embu DCIO Edwin Kamau said the case is more of a missing person than kidnap. He said the phone call cannot be related to the incident because there was no demand for ransom. He, however, said they are still investigating the incident.