Residents of Eshisari village in Kakamega County were left stunned after an elderly man who disappeared over 60 years ago resurfaced—empty-handed and heartbroken. Boniface Muhandia, now 99, returned home expecting to reconnect with his family, only to learn that his wife and two sons had long died in his absence.
Muhandia, who villagers had presumed dead decades ago, quietly walked into the village armed with only a worn walking stick and a small suitcase carrying a few clothes. His frail figure and unfamiliar face left many unable to recognize him. Only a handful of older villagers and relatives recalled the man who had vanished in 1965.
While earlier reports had indicated that Muhandia traveled to Uganda in search of work, fresh accounts from family members suggest that he may have ventured as far as the United States. His sudden return, however, painted a picture of a man who had endured decades of hardship, disconnected from his roots, and ultimately returned to find nothing of what he left behind.
Back in the 1960s, Muhandia had left his young wife Chelemendia Adhiambo and their four children in search of greener pastures abroad. He was a skilled mason, full of ambition and driven by the need to provide. “I left because I wanted to make life better for my family. I was strong, and people trusted my work,” he said during an emotional reunion.
In the late 1970s, Chelemendia reportedly joined him briefly in a foreign land—possibly Uganda or further—but later returned home with their now six children. With no communication from Muhandia thereafter, the family presumed he had either died or deliberately abandoned them.
Sadly, life continued without him. His two sons died in the late 1990s, and his wife passed away just two years ago, all without any word or trace of Muhandia. His family held memorials and eventually moved on.
“I used to write letters to my family,” Muhandia said, “but after a while, the connection was lost. I didn’t know what happened to them. Life became difficult, and I ended up alone.”
His return was made possible by a kind-hearted woman in Entebbe who found him on the streets and took him in. She cared for him for four years and, after hearing his desperate plea to be taken home, worked tirelessly to trace his origins using vague memories and a few names. Her effort eventually led her to Eshisari village in Mumias East.
“When I first saw him, I couldn’t believe it,” said Peter Wabuti, 86, Muhandia’s younger brother. “He looked so weak, so lost, but when he mentioned our parents’ names and certain places, we knew it was him.”
John Atako, 89, another brother, had stepped in to care for the family Muhandia left behind. “When he went silent, I took it upon myself to help raise his children, especially after his wife came back from abroad with more children,” he said.
But the years have taken their toll. Muhandia struggles to recall the names of his children, the layout of his home, or even who among his family is still alive. The house he built in the 1960s has collapsed, replaced by memories and weeds.
“He had completely forgotten some parts of home. We had to walk with him, pointing at landmarks to jog his memory,” said Atako.
His return has sparked debate among elders and villagers on whether traditional cleansing rituals should be performed to reintegrate him. After all, the community had long believed he was dead. Some fear that failing to conduct the appropriate rites could bring misfortune, while others view his return as a blessing.
Despite his financial hardship and fading health, Muhandia expressed immense gratitude for being welcomed home. “I’m thankful to God that I’m back. Many thought I had died, and I, too, had lost hope. But here I am. I’ve walked back to where my story began.”
