This archive report was first published on 6 December 2019.
On December 6, 2019, a Manhattan Family Court judge ruled that a Kenyan mother should return a two-year-old American boy to his father in Manhattan, but the decision was stayed after her attorney appealed.
However, the boy's father, Claude Dary, has been fighting to get back his son since 2018, when he and his ex-girlfriend split.
According to court documents, the mother suddenly stopped answering Dary's calls and relocated to Kenya with their son, Rowan, within a week of their breakup.
Speaking to local media, Dary expressed his distress, saying, "I just want to see my son and be a part of his life."
Despite his efforts, Dary has not seen his son since February 2018, and the child's mother has refused to return him.
On November 6th, Dary and his family celebrated Rowan's second birthday in the child's absence.
A hearing is now scheduled for late January, and Dary remains hopeful that he will soon be reunited with his son.