Sudanese family in agony as kin goes missing from rental house in Kitale

A section of the a short-term rental (AirBnB) at Green house apartment located at TRM drive in Kasarani. [File, Standard]

A Sudanase family in Kitale is living in agony after their kin went missing late last month.

The family of Rev James Chuol Tang is encountering sleepless nights after the disappearance of Thok Chul, aged 31, on April 28, 2025.

Rev Tang, a Christian missionary, arrived in Kitale on April 24, 2025 and rented a house in Kibomet estate for his family of six.

The missionary was expected to conduct missionary work in Trans Nzoia County before heading to Tanzania.

Rev Tang said on the material day his son had walked to a nearby shop to buy some items never to return to the house.

"We were in the house when my son walked to a nearby shop to buy some items but not to return back," said Rev Tang.

The family reported the matter at Kibomet patrol base and Kitale Police station.

Police confirmed that the family had reported the missing person.

"It is true that the report of a missing person was reported to us and we are helping the family to trace him," an officer at Kitale police station told the Standard.

Since the disappearance, Rev Tang says their efforts to trace their kin have been in vain.

"We have visited many places such as police stations and hospitals in search of him. We have stretched our search to West Pokot and Bungoma counties," Tang told journalists.

Rev Tang said they had received information from a boda boda rider that he ferried Chul Kitale's Line moja, but due to a communication barrier, he sought the help of Police officers who were on patrol and was told to take Chul to Kitale police station.

"The rider told us when they met with my son, he could understand where he wanted to be dropped and when he spotted officers who were on patrol, they directed him to drop him to police station. The rider then dropped my son at police gate from where he disappeared," said Rev Tang.

Tang said his son is suffering from schizophrenia.

Chul had completed his studies in the US and joined the family recently.

Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition that affects how people think, feel, and behave. It may result in a mix of hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking and behaviour.

He appealed to any person who could spot his son to report to the nearest police station.