My eight-year-long search for Collins

Collins Omondi (standing right) in a family photo. He got lost in 2006 and has not been traced. [PHOTOS: PHILIP ORWA/STANDARD]

By Maureen Odiwuor

When a 14-year-old boy strolled out of his home, his family thought he was going for a walk. However, at the end of the day when he failed to turn up, his parents were not so worried for they thought he had gone to visit one of their many relatives or neighbours.

But when Collins Omondi also nicknamed Daddy Kowino failed to turn up at his home in Kalwande village, West Seme Ward in Kisumu, his mother Beatrice Akinyi panicked. Eight years later Omondi has not been seen and his family is still puzzled by his disappearance.

The last person to see him, a cousin, reported spotting him seven kilometres away along Korwa-Kombewa route.

He was dressed in a pink flowery shirt, maroon shorts and was bare foot.

“His cousin told us that he saw Daddy along Bar Korwa-Kombewa route (seven kilometres from home), asking for a lift from a man who was driving a white car,” says his father, Cosmas Owino.

“The boy who apparently was Daddy’s age mate tried to convince him to alight but he said he was going for a ride and would come back after reaching Kombewa, a promise he is yet to fulfil eight years later,” he says.

This revelation by his cousin was the beginning of a search mission that never materialised. The family decided to report the matter at Kombewa Police Station where they left their contacts.

Since that fateful day on November 21, 2006, the family has never known peace  as the parents keep reliving the last moments with their first born son whom they cherished dearly despite his being handicapped. 

Fond memories

According to the family, Daddy, was mentally challenged, a situation which made it impossible for him to enroll in school. Despite this, they describe him as cheerful and popular among the villagers.

The mother, cannot hold back her tears as she narrates the turmoil her family has been through since her son vanished.

The mother’s love is evident as her gloomy face lights up with fond memories of happier days with Daddy.

At the time of his disappearance, Akinyi had only one child; omondi , now she has two other children and the last born is three years old.

“My son was special. We could not afford to take him to a special school because of lack of income,” she says.

But unlike many parents who hide their children with special needs, they set him free to interact with the community.

“His daily routine was predictable. He woke up, took breakfast and then joined us in the shamba later. When the need arose he would take a stroll and inform me that he was going for a walk. On such occasions, he came back for lunch,” she recalls.

After lunch, he would go out and return in the evening or once in a while sleep at a relative’s house where the parents could trace and find him.

The day he disappeared, it was quite cold and rainy. Inquiries on his whereabouts yielded nothing.

Eight years later, the parents are still waiting for any word, positive or negative.   The family has also shared their predicament with local radio stations but there has been no word yet about missing Daddy.

“I am desperate for any information which will help me  get my son back,” she says.