Man makes an emotional trip back home with Sh500 in pocket

There was celebration in
a sleepy village of Nganue, Kaiti constituency, Makueni County, when a man who
went missing 46 years ago returned home yesterday. David Malelu, a father of
three, said he spent many years working as a farmhand in Tanzania. According to
some family members and neighbours who received Malelu, 84, yesterday morning,
he was last seen in 1972 while working in a Mombasa hotel. His wife, Ruth
Malelu, 75, said he disappeared with another woman whom she suspected might
have influenced him to abandon the family. “He went missing years back. I don’t
know when but the last time I saw him he was with another woman,” said Ruth,
adding she later went to visit him in Mombasa but did not find him. When Malelu
finally returned home yesterday, he had only Sh500 and a small bag full of
dirty clothes. Ruth expressed her joy at the reunion, saying she had despaired
after searching for her husband in vain. Know if news is factual and true. Text
'NEWS' to 22840 and always receive verified news updates. “We looked for him in
mortuaries, hospitals and Kenya’s major prisons but we didn’t find him,” she
said. Malelu said he didn’t have a specific reason for leaving his family for
so long. “I thank God I’m home at last, although I can’t tell why I abandoned
them. But there came a time when I said I must find my family,” he said. Malelu
said he worked in orchards in Tanzania’s Kawaya village in Mkarama, among other
places, earning TSh100, 000 (KSh4,400) per season. Although he declined to
state the whereabouts of the ‘other woman’, he said he saw no benefit of
running away from a wife he loved. He then talked about his journey back home.
“I didn’t exactly know my destination when I left Tanzania; it took me three days
on the road. When I arrived at the Kenya-Tanzania border in Oriri, I found my
way in by bribing a policeman who was manning the entrance because I had no
passport,” said Malelu, whose feet were swollen from the many kilometres
journeyed. Nearby market He said he could only remember a nearby market,
Nunguni, and from there he was directed to his home by boda boda operators. In
the years the old man has been away, his three children have grown up, finished
school, married and had children. His only son, Sammy Malelu, died in his
absence. Malelu’s cousin, Daniel Kilonzo, speaking on behalf of the family,
said they had been praying for the old man to return home alive or to be able
to bury his remains so they could have peace. “We welcomed him home and we will
ensure that everything is done to restore his deteriorating health.” Benson
Muthoka, the family chairman, said Malelu would be given time to recover, and
that they had accepted him back into the family. A neigbour, Wayua Kimanthi,
said she had been married in the village for more than 30 years and had never
seen Malelu. And a pastor identified as Patrick Mwele who led villagers in
celebrations following Malelu’s return called on the locals to accept him back
into the society. “I also call on others who have left their homes to return,”
said Mr Mwele.
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