This archive report was first published on 30 August 2021.
On August 30, 2021, a remarkable story unfolded in Nyeri County, Kenya, where a woman named Hannah Wangari returned home 15 years after she was presumed dead and buried.
Wangari's family had received her dowry and attended her burial 14 years ago, but unbeknownst to them, they had buried the wrong body. Meanwhile, Wangari was living in Kiambu with her five children and two grandchildren.
Her family's discovery began when they received an announcement on the radio about a woman admitted at Nyeri Hospital who mentioned their names as her parents. They visited her, but she was too frail to be identified. After her death, they found out that the woman they thought was their daughter had been married in Nyeri and had two children.
Wangari's family had kept in touch with her daughter, who was 10 years old at the time. The girl grew up and got married, prompting her father to pay dowry to Wangari's parents. However, things took a surprising turn when Wangari returned home last Monday, sending shockwaves through her family.
Her aunt ran helter-skelter, thinking the niece's spirit had 'resurrected.' However, Wangari explained the order of events that led to her disappearance, revealing that she had left home, been employed as a house help in Kiambu, and eventually landed a husband after a disagreement with her employer.
Wangari's family was left stunned, but they eventually welcomed her back home. Her uncle, John Ndegwa, stated that they would reach out to the other family whose daughter died and negotiate with the in-laws in Nyeri to return the bride price.
