This archive report was first published on 2 November 2019.
On November 2, 2019, a family from Nakuru received a glimmer of hope in their 14-year search for their missing son, who was abducted in 2005 when he was just two years old.
After receiving an anonymous tip in October of this year, the family traveled to Kisumu for DNA tests to confirm whether a boy they had found matched their missing son.
Hellen Atandi, the alleged mother, was visibly anxious as she waited for the results at the government chemist lab in Kisumu. She had been searching for her son since he was taken from her in 2005.
"I left my house at 5 pm, and when I returned, I found the boy, but the house girl was nowhere to be found," Hellen recalled.
She reported the incident at the Kisii Central Police Station and continued her search for her son, but eventually abandoned it in 2007 due to trauma.
However, the anonymous tip in October reignited her hope, and she promptly followed up on the lead, rekindling her search for her missing son.
"We took pictures, and the boy was in a poor state, with signs of malnutrition and poor living conditions," Hellen said.
The boy and his alleged mother were brought to the government chemist's office in Kisumu on orders from a court in Kehancha, Migori County.
Hellen expressed her desire for the boy to be taken care of by the government agency, regardless of the outcome of the DNA tests.
"If it's confirmed that the boy is not my son, I still want him to be taken care of in a children's home. I will continue searching for my son and trust that God will help me find him," Hellen said.
