Form 2 twins go missing on day of school resumption

Twin boys Ryan Mwenda (left) and Leon Macharia. The siblings went missing on Tuesday, April 12, 2022 in Embu. [Muriithi Mugo, Standard]

Two teenage twin boys from Embu County have gone missing in unclear circumstances.

Leon Macharia and Ryan Mwenda, 15, went missing from their home in Rupingazi, Embu West Sub-County on Tuesday, July 12, when their mother was preparing to take them to school.

Macharia is Form Two student at Moi High School, Mbiruri while Mwenda is also a Form Two student at Kangaru High School. Both schools are in Embu County.

“They had already prepared to report to school for second term. When I stepped out of my room to check on them, I did not find them,” said the boys’ mother Naisera Muthoni.

The teenagers went missing on Tuesday midday.

“They left their uniforms and schoolbags in the house. They never carried anything with them,” said Muthoni.

The parent, who is a teacher at Nyangwa Boys’ High School in Embu County, said she doesn’t know what could have led to the boys leaving home without saying a word.

“They had earlier complained that they were separated upon joining high school,” said Muthoni.

“During the recent school break, they kept questioning why they can’t be reunited. Macharia told me that at his school, Moi High School Mbiruri, there are triplets studying there,” said the boys’ parent.

“Mwenda, on the other hand, told me that there are twins studying with him at Kangaru High School.”

Muthoni said the children are disciplined, and have never exhibited signs of frustration.

The parent said they separated the identical twins to allow each of them develop their own character and personality, since they had spent a better part of their life doing things the same way.

“I had given them Sh2,000 as pocket money. A boda boda operator who saw them said the two had hailed a boda boda to the Embu Town bus terminus, where they boarded a Nairobi-bound matatu,” said Muthoni.

Embu West Sub-County Police Commander Julius Kyumbure told The Standard that pictures of the missing twins have been circulated to aid in their search.

Moi High School, Mbiruri principal Patrick Nderitu said he was shocked to learn of the disappearance of their student Leon Macharia.

Kangaru High Chool principal Solomon Koech, on the other hand, said he is hopeful that the missing children will be found safe and sound.

The boys’ mother, Naisera Muthoni, can be reached through 0723 511 745, while their father Joseph Mwaniki can be reached on 0722 321 655.