Lost son uncertain of family after 17 years of search

Lost son uncertain of family after 17 years of search

A 23-year-old man who has been missing from his family for 17 years has said he is not sure if the family he has reunited with on Tuesday, December 29 at the Royal Media Services Headquarters in Hurlingham, Nairobi is his.

Joel Francis Richard has been in search of his family for the past 17 years and on December 24 was featured on Citizen Television reaching out to his unknown parents.

Joel Francis Richard at Royal Media Services Headquarters PHOTO/BRIAN OKOTH
Joel Francis Richard at Royal Media Services Headquarters PHOTO/BRIAN OKOTH

Five days later, a couple came out to claim him as their biological son.

Despite a striking resemblance with the supposed father, Ezra Odongo, and mother Beatrice Nanjala, Joel still wants a DNA test to be conducted to ascertain a biological relationship with the two.

Mr and Mrs Odongo (centre and right) with Mr Odongo's brother (left) PHOTO/BRIAN OKOTH
From left: Joel’s supposed uncle, father Ezra Odongo  and mother Beatrice Nanjala PHOTO/BRIAN OKOTH

“I got lost from home in 1998. We used to live in a Nairobi slum; I cannot remember its name,” narrated Joel.

“I recount we were going to church on the fateful day with my mother. After the sermon, my mum left me at a place I cannot recall; it is then that I got lost after leaving the place.

“A Good Samaritan who found me wandering in the streets took me to a Nairobi Juvenile Court; I stayed there for one week. I was later taken to Kabete Children’s Home. I stayed at the orphanage for seven months, and was relocated to Familia ya Ufariji Children’s Home in Maziwa,” said the 23-year-old.

“It is that institution which funded my education from elementary to secondary level.”

Joel says he has mixed feelings meeting Mr and Mrs Odongo.

“I am happy to meet them, but I am not sure if they are truly my parents. I wish a DNA test could be conducted to ascertain if we are related by blood. I am half way convinced though,” he stated.

Mr Richard told Citizen Digital that he did not feel incomplete living without his family; he only felt there’s a necessity to reunite with his blood after he completed his education.

“I never felt a void in my life the whole time I was separated from my family; I used to eat, sleep and go to school – that was all I needed. However, after completing school and getting a job, I deemed it wise to search for my parents.”

What about the three English names he has – were they the same his parents gave him?

“Catholic officials at the orphanage I was staying in gave me the name after baptizing me; I cannot remember the name my parents gave me.”

Joel’s supposed mother, Beatrice Nanjala, however maintains that the lad is her son; she is a hundred percent convinced.

“What made me understand it is him I have been looking for in the past 17 years is how he introduced himself on television; his face and that of his brothers’ resemble. Even take a look at his lips and mine; his forehead and his dad’s, his ears and his dad’s – they all resemble!” she boldly stated.

“What I feel from head to toe, I’d say only God knows; I am very happy; actually I am speechless!” she added.

 

Of the hearty hug motherly hug after 17 years of absence PHOTO/BRIAN OKOTH
Of the hearty motherly hug after 17 years of absence PHOTO/BRIAN OKOTH

As a mother, does she have the documents that can prove she is indeed the biological parent of Joel? “My purse got lost with his birth certificate and documents some time back; so, I don’t have the papers,” said Nanjala.

Despite her conviction, Nanjala’s story and Joel’s are inconsistent creating some doubt on whether the two are indeed related.

“I am the mother of Kevin (according to her, that’s the name she gave Joel).

“I wasn’t at home in Kibera when he got lost; I had taken the last born to hospital. My son had remained at home with his elder sister called Mummy and second born brother Boi. It seems Mummy and Boi had gone to the stream to fetch water, leaving behind their younger brother. That is the time he left the house and disappeared.”

“Mummy later in the afternoon came to the hospital and told me Kevin had disappeared. The doctors discharged me and I went on a search spree for my son.

“I reported at Kilimani Police Station. Since then I have never seen him. I later relocated from Nairobi to Rongo in Migori County,” said Nanjala.

Ezra Odongo, the supposed father, said his son disappeared while he was at work.

“I was working at Industrial Area in Nairobi when my son disappeared. After completing my day at work, I went home and found his mother crying. That is the time she told me that Kevin had gotten lost.”

In desperation and despair, Mr Odongo did everything he could to find his son.

“I sold everything to raise funds to search for my son; a man of God even advised me to go to Kakamega and look for him. He said I’d find him at the Kakamega Police Station. On arriving there, Kevin wasn’t at the said post.”

Now that he has met ‘him’, “I feel very good; I welcome him home.”

He indeed welcomed his son home PHOTO/BRIAN OKOTH
He indeed welcomed his son home PHOTO/BRIAN OKOTH

Joel nonetheless maintains his mother was called Njeri and his father Richard. The family now considers DNA as the only chance to help them establish whether there is a relationship between them and Joel.

 

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Joel Francis Richard Lost son uncertain of family after 17 years of search

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