Father’s Anguish Grows as Son Vanishes Without a Trace
A cloud of fear and deep concern hangs over Sunton, Kasarani, in Nairobi County, as Boniface Muasa grapples with the agonizing disappearance of his 11-year-old son, Prince Kimani Muasa. For over a week, Prince has been missing, leaving his parents, Boniface and Ruth, and their entire family in a state of profound distress and sleepless nights. The family’s hope of finding their son safe and sound dwindles with each passing day, compounded by the unsettling experience of encountering potential scammers during their desperate search.
Prince, a Grade 6 student at Linet Academy, a boarding school located a mere four-minute walk from their home, was last seen on Monday, February 9. His father recounts the harrowing moments leading up to his son’s disappearance. “My son came home as usual, then later around 6 pm he went back to school to pick up a textbook for homework which he had left behind,” Boniface shared, his voice heavy with emotion. “When he went, he never came back home.”
The immediate aftermath of Prince’s failure to return was a whirlwind of frantic searching and reporting. The family’s initial inquiries at the school yielded no immediate answers, with the security guard reporting not having seen him. This led to a swift report to the Sunton Police Station, where an OB number was obtained. The family’s efforts to locate Prince quickly expanded, encompassing reports filed at surrounding police stations, including Clay City Police Post, Mwiki, Kasarani, Githurai, and Kimbo.
A Desperate Search and Unsettling Contacts
The family’s search intensified, with Boniface and Ruth dedicating their days and nights to the effort. They followed every lead, however small, and spoke to anyone who might have seen their son. Prince was last seen by his peers while they were playing together, but this sighting provided no further clues as to his whereabouts.
During this period of immense anxiety, the family received deeply disturbing contact from unknown numbers. Callers claiming to be in possession of Prince demanded money in exchange for his safe return. “We got some SMS from numbers demanding money, saying they were with the child. We didn’t respond to them,” Boniface revealed, expressing his frustration and fear that these individuals were preying on their vulnerability.
Adding to the confusion and distress, rumors began to circulate, suggesting that Prince had been found. Boniface was quick to debunk these claims, stating emphatically, “There are rumours going around that Prince has been found. I guess they are now spreading rumours on social media, but it’s false information. I have still not found my son.” He provided a description of what Prince was last seen wearing: a blue jersey T-shirt, black jeans, and black Crocs.
An Appeal for Public Assistance
Prince’s education at Linet Academy, a boarding school, explains why he might have been at school in the late evening, even as a day scholar. The presence of boarders typically means the school gates remain open later, allowing for such late retrievals. This detail, however, offers little solace to the worried parents.
The family is now making a heartfelt appeal to the public for any information that could lead to Prince’s safe return. Each passing day amplifies their anguish and the void left by their son’s absence. Despite the disheartening encounters with potential scammers, Boniface and Ruth remain resolute in their determination to exhaust every possible avenue to reunite with their beloved child. The whereabouts of Prince Kimani Muasa remain unknown, and the family’s hope rests on the kindness and vigilance of the community.
A Similar Story of Loss and Hope
The plight of the Muasa family echoes the heartbreak of another parent in Mombasa County. Elywine Omondi, a distressed mother, has also been desperately searching for her son, Desmond Barack Odhiambo, affectionately known as Dess, who has been missing for a week. Elywine last saw her son on Friday, January 23.
After reporting Dess missing to the police, the family received information that he had been seen in the Mikindani area. They immediately rushed to the location and conducted an extensive search, but their efforts proved fruitless, leaving them with more questions and profound worry than before. The situation highlights the pervasive pain and helplessness experienced by families when a loved one disappears.
