Man’s 10-year stroll into the unknown haunts family

By Michael Oriedo

If she had the powers, Jane Barasa would delete February 27 from the calendar since she considers it a dark day.

On that day every year, her parents and siblings congregate at their family home in Nairobi’s Huruma Estate to pray for her missing brother.

The prayers, though a ritual to commemorate her elder brother’s disappearance, starkly remind them that another year has passed without knowing his whereabouts.

Julius Obote Shiunzi disappeared 10 years ago and efforts to trace him have been futile.

Then aged 32, Obote left his parents’ home in Huruma for a casual walk in the estate never to return.

"That Saturday morning at about 11am, he went to meet his friends in the neighbourhood," recalls Jane.

But he did not return in the evening as expected. Being an adult, the family did not bother to search for him hoping that he would return the next day.

"We expected him to return without fail on Sunday since it was unusual for him to spend a night outside without informing anyone," says Jane.

When he did not show up, the family became concerned. "We suspected something unpleasant had happened to him," she recalls.

Frantic search

Jane Barasa holding a photo of his lost brother Julius Obote Shiunzi with his son. Photos:Michael Oriedo

They enquired from his friends. "One of them told us he had seen Obote with a neighbour. "We asked the neighbour and he admitted meeting my brother that morning but parted ways soon after," narrates Jane.

Fearing the worst, they reported the disappearance at Kasarani Police Station. They then checked in several police stations to confirm whether he had been arrested.

"I went to Muthaiga, Ruaraka, Pangani and other police stations in the area but Obote was not there," says Mr Tom Shiunzi, Obote’s father.

Without relenting, Shiunzi widened his search to different health institutions. "I checked with attendants at the City Mortuary three times but his body was not there," says Shiunzi.

Shiunzi then visited Kenyatta National Hospital and checked ward by ward, but his first-born son was not among the patients admitted at the facility.

Thinking that the police may have arrested him, taken him to court and remanded him, he visited Industrial Area Remand Prison but in vain.

"We also checked with our relatives in the city and rural home in Koyonzo, Mumias District but he had not travelled there," says Jane.

After about two weeks, the family received a message that Obote had been seen at Nairobi’s Grogan Road area.

Clan Demands Ritual

Armed with his description, they enquired from mechanics, security guards and shop attendants but none could recall ever seeing him.

About a month later and still agonising over their brother’s disappearance, Jane says someone started a rumour at their rural home that Obote was dead.

"A relative travelled from Mumias to Nairobi to confirm whether he was dead saying we had declined to inform them," she says sorrowfully.

"We could not believe how people were using the misfortune to torment us even further," she laments.

When they refuted, relatives challenged them to produce him to counter the claim. "It was a shocking and distressing experience for us," she says. "Where they wanted us to get him, we could not tell. We ignored the claims and concentrated on the search."

As time passed, however, the relatives got impatient and renewed their demands. They sent a message that Shiunzi and his family travel home and do a ritual to symbolise his son’s burial.

"They wanted us to bury a banana stalk and forget about our brother. This ritual is done when one is considered dead and his body is not available for burial," expounds Jane.

The family declined. "How could we do the ceremony yet we believe our brother is alive?" she poses. "If we had gone ahead with the ritual, we would be endorsing that he is dead."

Power Of Prayers

When he disappeared, Jane, then 22, was a student at a city college. Now, working as an administrative assistant at a law firm in Nairobi, she says her brother’s sudden departure has devastated the family.

"Life cannot continue normally when we do not know whether our sibling is dead or alive," she says.

Erick Shiunzi, Obote’s brother, concurs and says prayers have helped the family surmount the agony that Obote’s disappearance cost them.

"We sought the power of prayers to overcome our grief. We believe he is alive and one day he will come back and take his place in the family," he says.

Erick says he was looking up to him for direction and advice as he grew up.

"As his siblings, he left us headless. His presence in a way would have shaped and contributed positively to our lives."

Jane’s father says the family has done everything within their means to look for Obote. "I believe he is still alive, though 10 years and four months have passed since he vanished. Sometimes I have dreams, where I see him interacting with his brothers," she says.

As years pass, the family is optimistic that God would answer their prayers. They hope Obote would return to take care of his child, who was a toddler when he disappeared.