This archive report was first published on 6 May 2021.
On a day that was reminiscent of Easter blessings, a middle-aged woman from Muranga County returned home after a 17-year absence. Milka Muthoni, a mother of six, had been away from her family since 2004.
According to Muthoni, she had gone to Nairobi in 2004 to pursue a better life, but her journey was marred by domestic violence. She narrated that her first husband, who hailed from Narok County, turned violent, forcing her to leave their rural home in Narok town.
‘We stayed with my husband in Nairobi for a short period and opted to go and stay at his rural home. At the outskirts of Narok town, things got worse during 2007 post-election violence. This prompted us to leave our rural home and go stay in Narok town,’ Muthoni recalled.
Despite the challenges, Muthoni continued to face more difficulties in her marriage, including being chased to sleep outside by her husband. She eventually escaped to Nyeri in 2011, where she was hosted by a friend.
While in Nyeri, Muthoni got married again and had two more children. However, her new husband was jailed in 2019 for two years after being convicted of theft. During his incarceration, Muthoni faced numerous challenges, including the loss of her house after she accused some people of stealing her chicken.
Despite the many challenges she faced, Muthoni never gave up hope of reuniting with her family. Last Sunday, she finally returned home after receiving Sh3,000, which she used to travel back to her parent's home.
Her family was overjoyed to see her, and Muthoni's mother and family members could not hide their emotions. Muthoni's return has brought hope to those who have lost relatives or friends, reminding them that some people may be in deep struggles but will eventually come back.
‘We will now be visiting home henceforth together with my husband and children. The children I left in Narok are under the custody of their father. I don’t know if one day I will see them,’ Muthoni said.
