Boy’s disappearance threatens family unity

It started as normal back-to-school preparations but has morphed into an endless frantic search for a brilliant boy, who once made news for his exemplary performance in school.

On Sunday, September 4, last year, Brian Michira was preparing to go back to school at Parklands Boys High School, where he was a Form Two student. As his mother Mary Zakayo explains, Brian, the first born of three children, got into a conflict with his father over some schoolbooks he had lost.

His father, Daniel Achoki, confirms this, saying that he and Brian went to a friend’s house whom Brian had allegedly lent the books.

"I had come from work that night very tired. After a nap, we discussed his back to school plans and that was when I discovered that he had lost some books. Naturally, I was not amused," says Achoki.

Unfortunately, they did not manage to get the books and the two went back home. Achoki recalls that he was also concerned about a certain basketball that Brian owned, but they cleared that up when Brian explained that he had bought it from a friend.

Shocking news

A few hours later, Brian said that he was going to see his uncle (Charles Chemei), whom he frequently visited and even studied in his house. Brian has never been seen since that fateful Sunday.

"When nightfall came, I called my brother Chemei to ask if the boy was with him, only for him to shock me by saying he had not seen him. I was terrified," recalls Mary.

Later that night, his father reported to the local chief at Kangemi and Kabete police stations.

There has been no news since then on Brian’s disappearance, and his baffled family is still in shock over his sudden disappearance.

"We have searched in every possible relative’s and friend’s house, but Brian is nowhere to be found. He has not contacted any friends or relatives, and I keep wondering where he might be, and if he is well," says his mother.

As his mother and uncle reveal, Brian was not only a brilliant student at school, but also a talented basketball player. Brian and his friends would play basketball over the holidays with his friends at a local church at Mountain View. But as his mother reports, there is more than meets the eye as far as Brian’s habit of playing the sport at the church is concerned.

Offers Mary: "People are very suspicious of the church. It is said to be a church, but we don’t see people worshipping there on Sundays. The church is abandoned, save for the security men at the gate and the children who play at the basketball court."

Basketball player

His mother says that a week after Brian disappeared, one of the parents to Brian’s teammates reportedly saw him at the basketball court. However, upon asking around, nobody seconded that claim.

"Some people claim to have seen a car come into the compound and carried all the boys playing on the basketball pitch," says Mary.

Mary was traumatised by the news, as she recalls that Brian often told her about a certain white man who would eventually sponsor them if they continued to play basketball. Unfortunately, it was not until Brian disappeared that his mother learnt that he had been playing basketball at the suspicious church, presumably because he knew his mother would reprimand him.

His disappearance has not only caused an emotional and psychological upheaval upon the family, but also cracks between his parents’ marriage.

Both parents are having a conflict over the disappearance of the boy, and this is fast causing a rift between this once closely-knit family. "My husband is saying that I have hidden the boy in one of my relative’s house, but I wonder why he would say so while he was the one in conflict with our son hours before his disappearance," says Mary.

Rift in family

But Achoki maintains that Brian’s certificates have also mysteriously disappeared, adding a twist to the boy’s disappearance.

So deep is this rift that Achoki has decided to take the second born daughter to one of his relative’s house, leaving Mary with her lastborn.

"We live under the same roof, but there is no peace in the house. It is very disturbing," she says.

Mary fondly recalls Brian’s charming character and expresses her disappointment in losing a brilliant boy who once appeared in The Standard for his commendable performance during the 2009 KCPE. Brian scored 383 marks out of 500, but his parents were unable to raise his school fees. Fortunately, a sponsor came to his rescue and paid Brian’s school fees, including this year’s fees.

"Brian is a bright boy, and that is why he secured a sponsor who paid his school fees all through since Form One second term. I was glad that his dreams of being an aeronautical engineer would come to pass," she says.