Decade long journey that witchdoctors can’t unravel

By Joel Okwayo

It was meant to be an ordinary journey from Kibera Estate in Nairobi to Kakamega District, which ordinarily would take less than 12 hours.

However, Joseph Mukuti Okoyana’s journey, which began one morning in October 2000, is yet to be complete nine years later.

Almost 10 years after he left Nairobi for his rural village, his relatives are still waiting for him to arrive.

His brother Josephat Mukoshi says it was on October 12, 2000 when Mukuti boarded a matatu at the Olympic bus stage in Kibera heading for his rural home to put up a house for his newly wedded wife.
The 21-year-old man was from Indangalasia, Kakamega Central District. His brother says he had no child since he was just married before he went missing.

The last journey

Mukoshi says his brother’s wife Christine Bukutsa left after he failed to return after a long period.
According to police records, his family reported that he was wearing a white shirt, a leather jacket, blue jeans trouser and Reebok black shoes.

Joseph Mukuti who has been missing for nine years. Mukuti and his wife Christine. Photo: Benjamin Sakwa/ Standard

Mukoshi says his elder brother had only stayed in Nairobi for two years.
"He had visited me in 1998 and got a casual job at Kenya Railways Centre.

He was a waiter and when his contract ended, he established a food kiosk," explains Mukoshi.
He says his brother was doing well in the food business, adding he was able to sustain his family.
On the fateful day, Mukoshi escorted his brother to the bus stage and bid him farewell.

After staying for one week without hearing from him, he called his family members in Kakamega enquiring on when Mukuti was planning to return to Nairobi.

He was shocked when his family members said his brother had not visited them.
Mukoshi immediately travelled upcountry to confirm the disappearance.

"It was sad that I could not explain what happened to my brother since nobody had seen him since he left my house.

I was the last person to see him, but I did know what happened after we parted at the bus park," says Mukoshi.

He reported the matter to the provincial administration and the Kakamega Police Station. When he went back to Nairobi, he made similar reports to the Kilimani and Langa’ta Police Stations.

Camping in morgues

"I also went to Kamukunji Police Station by virtue of its proximity to the Machakos country bus, where he was to pick a bus. I wanted all police stations involved in the search," says Mukoshi.
He says he also sent messages to relatives across the country. However, Mukoshi who works with a radio station in Nairobi says no one has ever heard about his brother’s whereabouts since then.

He recalls how he obtained a letter from the Kilimani Police Station dated November 29, 2000 allowing him to view unclaimed bodies at the City Mortuary.

"Please allow the bearer of this letter Josephat Mukoshi and Francis Lazaro to view bodies of unknown people deposited as from October 12, 2000 in search of their relative namely Joseph Mukuti Okoyana who went missing since October 12, 2000," read part of the letter addressed to the Superintendent, Nairobi City Mortuary.
He says he viewed 16 bodies, but none of them resembled that of his brother.
He then visited known accident black spots along the Nairobi-Nakuru highway asking whether there had been an accident on that day.

"I went to the Nakuru Provincial General Hospital Mortuary but he was not there," he recalls.
Mukoshi says he did not give up. He decided to visit prisons in search of his brother.

He says he visited Naivasha, Shimo la Tewa and Kodiaga prisons, but did not find Mukuti there.
Accompanied by his uncles they visited church leaders and even witchdoctors to unravel the mystery.

"We went to a witchdoctor in Mumias who told us that our brother was still alive and he was living in Kisumu near Kodiaga Prison," says Mukoshi, adding that they organised for the search at Kodiaga area but they never found him.

Another witchdoctor in Mombasa demanded that they provide seven chicken, groundnuts and sim sim worth Sh7,000. But his antics failed despite ‘prophesying’ that Mukuti was alive and would return home.

"He told us to go home and wait for two days as our brother will emerge from the gate," says Mukoshi.
He says another witch doctor in Tanzania failed them despite assuring the family that his brother will return home.
Mukoshi laments that his father, John Okoyana, died last year before the return of his son.

Keeping hope alive

He says his younger brother Sylvester, who was working with the Malawian Embassy, also died this year.
Mukoshi, however, says no traditional ritual has been undertaken in honour of the lost brother since they still believe he is alive.

Mukuti went to Emusala Primary School where he completed his Kenya certificate of primary education (KCPE) examination before leaving for Nairobi to search for a job.