A family from Chemase village in Tinderet, Nandi County, is seeking help to locate the relatives and friends of Mzee Lomiya Naminami. Elderly man Mzee Lomiya Naminami poses for a photo in Nandi. In the early 1980s, Mzee Lomiya moved from his home in Loima, Turkana county, to Nandi, where he worked as a livestock herder for one family. According to a Facebook post by Turkana Digital News, the family relieved Lomiya of his duties in the early 2000s due to his old age and has been taking care of him since then. “Please come for your relative. According to his ID card, Mzee Naminami hails from Loima Constituency, Lorugum Location, Turkwel Division in Turkana County,” reads part of the Facebook post.
. The Nandi family intends to reconnect the elderly man with his relatives in Turkana and has promised to facilitate the process. “The family confirms that Mzee Naminami never married while in Nandi and has no children. They are ready to facilitate his reunion with his kin,” the post added. Netizens react to Mzee Lomiya Naminami’s situation Social media users had varying opinions as some praised the family for caring for him, while others questioned why they waited so long to look for his relatives. Joseph Mitto: “As he has been your worker for all those years, you could have given him a piece of land and made him part of your family! All we want to hear is that you’re looking for close family members or a wife, if he left one at home, to inherit his property! Be kind and make sure he does not suffer in his old age.”
Obadiah Zerobahs Serem: “Don’t waste your energy looking for his relatives—you are his people. Just take care of Mzee.” National ID of 99-year-old Lomiya Naminami looking for his family. Photo: Turkana Digital News. Source: Facebook Komen Was Komen: “The family he worked for must be truly kind and blessed. Taking care of someone who is not your relative until they reach 99 years is really an honour.” Jael Jeruto Mandago: “The family is simply trying to reconnect Mzee with his relatives. We don’t know whether they have anything that belongs to him or not. When someone works as a herdsman, it does not mean they will serve just one family for 40 years. I believe Mzee worked for many families during that time—this family just happened to be the last one he served.
Let’s avoid being too quick to judge. I hope Mzee finds his people.” Tirpo Edwin: “If none of his relatives comes forward, you should continue making him comfortable as part of your family. He has been with you all these years, and that does not change now just because this story has gone viral. He herded cattle, milked cows, repaired fences, and did everything to ensure your children had milk and that school fees were paid on time. Now, you are successful, energetic, and earning a living—while the man who worked for you in your time of need is old and helpless. “Yes, you have been taking care of him, but what have you done to show true appreciation? Is your plan simply to send him back to his kin, exhausted and worn out? Or do you have a package for him to ensure his comfort in his final days? If his relatives appear, make sure he is given a dignified farewell, with something tangible to appreciate his efforts.
If no one claims him, he remains part of your family. Humanity should be the priority here. You should also follow the legal process to formalise his stay with you. But be careful—if there are any benefits he is entitled to, people may suddenly show up claiming to be his kin just for financial gain. I hope he receives the care and respect he deserves in his old age. May God grant him peace, love, and a reunion with his family.” Kokoi Ejore: “Dear professionals, ladies, and gentlemen, good morning. This is a serious issue, and the media post is a wake-up call. It’s time we demand all his retirement benefits, his belongings, and everything he is entitled to since his employment in 1980. These people have used our Mzee for years and now want to discard him. That cannot happen! I expect a response from the relevant authorities to ensure he gets what he deserves.”
by Lynn-Linzer Kibebe
