Help trace my parents, chaos victim appeals

By Robert Wanyonyi

Deep inside Uganda, a Kenyan boy takes his master’s cattle to the river for the afternoon drink.

Looking tired and dejected, Emmanuel Mungai, 12, recalls how they lived as a normal family in Lurambi, Kakamega, before the 2008 post-election violence.

His father, he says, was known as Mungai wa Muthoni and his mother Everlyne.

"A group of youths, some of them my friends and neighbours, broke into our compound one evening and as they started to burn houses, we fled in different directions," he says.

He continues: "I was picked up by my current employer and brought here. Since then, I have never seen my parents and I do not know whether they survived."

Emmanuel Mwangi, 12, wants to re-unite with his parents after three years. [PHOTO: ROBERT WANYONYI]

He was employed as a herds boy at a small village called Bumbo in Eastern Uganda.

At the height of the violence nearly three years ago, a Good Samaritan took him to his home in Uganda.

The Standard got the story of the Kenyan boy from a Ugandan trader narrating his ordeal to another man. Upon sensing interest from this writer, he opted to take us to Bumbo village.

KCPE candidate

That is how we met Mungai in the bushes, looking after a herd of cattle.

"I could be sitting for my Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) this year, but due to what befell me and my family, my dream has been cut short," he says.

And his spirits were lifted when his Ugandan employer, Mr Peter Kimonge, agreed to return him home to trace his parents.

"What I wanted was for him to stay with me as we traced his parents, but our efforts have not borne any fruits. I will really appreciate it if you can assist him," Kimonge said last week.

Meanwhile, police officers at Bungoma Police Station secured Mungai a place at Kanduyi Children’s home where he is now staying. Mungai says he is not sure whether his parents went back to their ancestral home in Thika or whether they resettled in Lurambi after peace was restored.

"I appeal to my parents, if they are still alive, or anyone with information that may help me to reach them to assist me because I really miss them," he says as tears well in his eyes.

His parting shot to President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga: "I ask you to promote peace because I would not be in my current situation if you had promoted peace. I also beg of you to help me get my future back."