Father, son living in a thicket for 3 months after landlord kicked them out

A father and his son in Machakos county have been living in a thicket for three months now after being kicked out by the landlord due to rent arrears.

In photos that have since been shared online, the man identified as Benjamin Kilonzo is seen sitting with his form two son in a makeshift shelter surrounded by twigs.

The owner of the farm, Catherine Mutuku, says she first thought that a mentally-ill person was living in the thicket until she approached them and listened to their heartbreaking story.

According to Citizen, Kilonzo was doing menial jobs such as supplying firewood to hotels and vibandas, but business went down due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kilonzo has been taking care of his son after the wife left him when the boy was only two-years-old.

Despite attempts to take his son to their rural home in Kangundo so that he doesn’t suffer, Kilonzo says he was turned away by the brothers.

Kilonzo now spends his nights awake, looking out for his son and rests during the day. His son is unable to study as his books were locked up in their previous house.

The family currently depends on well-wishers to help them out.