Puzzle over schoolboy's disappearance

By Michael Wesonga

When the clergyman took his son to school for the third term last year, there was nothing to forewarn him of what was to happen to his son later that term.

Rev Elias Kimaiyo Bett had hoped the term would end on a high note, as his son was to join Form Four this year. But this was not to be.

The African Inland Church (AIC) pastor at Kimumu, Uasin Gishu County says their joy was broken one evening in November when a teacher called to enquire whether their 17-year-old son was at home.

Evans Kipruto Bett, a Form Three student at Chebisaas Boys High School was discovered missing from school on November 4, last year by the school administration. His class prefect reported the matter to the administration after he noted his absence during an examination.

Shocking news

It was at 5pm on that day when the school’s deputy principal called the boy’s mother enquiring whether he was home. The teacher informed her that the boy had gone out of school without permission.

Upon receiving the news, she called her husband, who was in town, to inform him of the development.

"I went to the school the following day accompanied by a neighbour and I was told that the previous night Form Three students had broken into boxes belonging to Form Four students and stolen their property," Bett narrates.

The teacher said Kipruto must have used the opportunity to sneak out of school as the school’s administration sought for the culprits.

But after speaking to some of Kipruto’s close friends, it became evident he first went missing on October 31, last year.

"His friend said he noticed Kipruto’s absence during the lunch break on October 31, but decided to keep it to himself," Bett explains.

It is after this that Bett went to report the disappearance at the Eldoret Central Police Station before he was later referred to Kapsoya Police Station, which covers Kimumu area where he lives.

Frantic search

Even as he waited for the police to help in the search, the family commenced a search for their son with neighbours, friends and relatives joining the search party.

They started searching for him within the surrounding areas like Chepkoilel and in friends’ and relatives’ homes.

"We didn’t find him even after announcing his disappearance on Kass FM for three days," he laments.

They also placed announcements in the dailies, which were sponsored by the school following instructions by the District Education Officer. The family had complained to the education official of the school’s laxity in helping them trace their son.

Since his disappearance, the family has been leading a stressful life with sleepless nights agonising over their son’s whereabouts.

"Every time there is an incident in the area we rush to the scene just to confirm it does not involve our son. We are yet to have peace in our hearts. Not when you do not know where your child is," Bett says.

Bett wonders where Kipruto could have gone yet he had never been to his rural home in Marakwet. He says he speaks only English and Kiswahili.

"Initially we thought he had joined some gangs within town and hoped it was just a matter of time before he returned home, but it appears we were wrong," he says.

Last visit

His father says Kipruto’s siblings were also affected by his disappearance as was demonstrated by the dismal performance of one of them who sat her KCPE exam last year.

The last time his parents saw him was during a visiting day on the first Saturday of October last year.

Bett recalls that he visited Kipruto two days after his wife had seen him to check on his progress. They had sent him drugs through a teacher who fellowshipped with them. The boy had complained of eye irritation.

There is no place where they suspect he could have gone to that they have not visited in their search. They say they have visited hospitals, police cells, market centres and have even sent people as far as Kitale and Kapsabet to look for Kipruto.

Despite all this, each day the family anxiously awaits for that occasion when their son will resurface and re-unite with them.

Bett is requesting anyone who might be privy to his son’s whereabouts to volunteer the information to the family on 0721368650.