Residents of Nganue village in Makueni County were treated to a rare occurrence after an 84-year-old man returned after 46 years since he left his home.
David Malelu, a father of three is said to have been seen last at his home in 1972.
He was working at a hotel in Mombasa.
According to his wife Ruth Malelu (75), the man eloped with another woman abandoning his family only to show up on Thursday morning looking shy and unkempt.
"It was a surprise since we had all thought he was dead until he showed up with a bag full of dirty clothes and Sh500 in his pocket, the last time I saw him he was with another woman but now that's he's back my prayers have been answered," Malelu said.
His family had relentlessly searched for him everywhere without success.
"In morgues, prison, and hospitals there's nowhere we didn't look for him but all we got was a disappointment. He was nowhere to be found," Malelu added.
The returnee claimed that he was a farmhand in Tanzania before his return.
He was unable to give a satisfactory answer about why he abandoned his family.
"I can't really tell why I left my family but I'm glad I'm home, that's what matters," he said.
He said he was forced to bribe a policeman at the Tanzania-Kenya border to be able to enter the country.
"It took me three days on the way, I had walked a better part of the journey," added he.
David said he was unable to recollect the way back to his home.
He said a bodaboda operator directed him.
David, however, refused to speak about the other woman whom he left his family for.
His cousin Daniel Kilonzo said the family, church, and community had accepted the old man back and would do everything to help him regain his health.
"It's unfortunate his only son grew, got a family but passed on before he could see his father but the other two girls are okay, married with children. We will look after him and ensure his health is back to normal," Kilonzo said.
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