Heartbroken Mary Asami Leah, 56, has not lost faith that her son, who went missing a month ago, will be found alive.
The single mother of seven, a resident of Manyani Makuti estate in Nakuru city, has been agonising over the disappearance of her second youngest son, Brian Stingo, 21, who left home for a walk on July 24 and has not been seen since.
His family said he left his mother and sister Susan Kavaya in the house and went for a walk with three friends.
He did not return home that day, prompting his mother and neighbours to start searching for him.
"I may never know what happened to my son. I didn't see him drown and I still hope that he is alive and safe,” Ms Asami told the Nation .
Bondeni Police Station, Nakuru. Ms Asami reported her missing son at the station days after the disappearance.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Ms Kavaya said they could not reach him by phone on July 24 and 25 as the phone had been switched off.
"We reported the matter at the Bondeni Police Station under OB number 19/27/7/2022," she said.
If the still waters of Lake Nakuru could speak, he could have been found.
His friend Tyson Ng'ang'a, who was last seen with him, said he drowned in Lake Nakuru.
"I have been engaging in fishing at Lake Nakuru since the waters started swelling to the neighbourhood. I went fishing with my friend Brian but he, unfortunately, drowned during the fishing expedition," Mr Ng'ang'a says in a statement recorded at the Bondeni Police Station.
Mr Ng'ang'a, who was arrested and detained briefly at the Bondeni Police Station over Mr Stingo’s disappearance, was also found with clothes belonging to the missing young man.
A jacket he was wearing the day he went missing was also found hanging on a tree on the shores of the lake, whose waters have flooded the neighbourhood.
"I reported the matter on July 27, but nothing much has been done,” Ms Asami said.
“In fact, police officers arrested Mr Tyson Ng'ang'a, who was last seen with my son, but released him five days later, saying they had no reason to continue holding him in custody. He was released and no charges were brought against him."
"I just pray that my son is found alive. However, I am ready and I want to find him alive or dead."
They combed the section of the lake where Mr Stingo’s is believed to have drowned but did not find his body.
Mr Eric Wekesa, the officer in charge at the Bondeni Police Station, said investigations into Mr Stingo’s disappearance were underway.
"We have made strides in our investigations and we are confident that the whereabouts of the missing person will be known. Already, the person he was last seen with has recorded a statement and we are also relying on ... other evidence to trace him," said Mr Wekesa.
The Nakuru Human Rights Network (Nahurinet) has urged the Inspector General of Police and the Director of Criminal Investigations to intervene.
“I write to call upon the Inspector General of Police and the Director of Criminal Investigations to intervene and help speed up investigations into the mysterious disappearance,” said Nahurinet Director David Kuria.
“I wonder why the police arrested, but released the main suspect Tyson Nganga, who should be [asked] to give details of what exactly happened. We want an explanation of what exactly transpired the day the young man went missing,".
He added: "I am calling for proper investigations to be conducted so that the family can trace their kin. We want to know where he is alive or dead."
Lake Nakuru’s waters have submerged homes and property in neighbouring areas, including Mwariki and Barut, making them a fishing ground for residents.
Though the government banned fishing at the lake, residents still fish illegally, especially in the morning and late at night.
