A Kisii man who disappeared from home a half a century ago has now returned home with just a walking stick. Samuel Machuka, 91, returned to his home village of Masabo in Nyaribari Masaba in Kisii county some five days ago.
The man had been in Wote in Makueni County where he worked as a farm hand. He was traced by the Provincial Administration. Machuka left his home in the 1970’s and was in search of green pasture.
Upon arrival, he was well received by his family who could not recognize him save for a few of his age mates. Machuka worked with his nephew Robert Makomba in Mau Narok in 1995 before they went different ways.
“I lost my father and came back for his burial. I never went back to Mau Narok, and since then, we lost touch because we had no form of communication then. Recently we got information that he had been traced to Makueni county,” he said.
“We appreciate the Provincial Administration. As Christians under the Seventh Day Adventist Church, we will not hold any ritual, but we will only welcome him back to our home and allow him to settle,” Makomba added.
According to Enock Abuga, his grandson, Machuka was not willing to return home.
“For several hours, I tried to convince him that he should return home,” he said.
Machuka revealed that he will return to Makueni to pick his personal belongings.
“I was not given the opportunity to pack my belongings, I traveled here to allow my people to confirm that indeed I am still alive,” he said.
Before he disappeared from home, Machuka was engaged in three informal unions but there is no information on the whereabouts of those women he had married.
“Yes, I have been married before, but I can’t be able to trace any of those women. My employer back in Makueni took good care of me. I plan to go back to thank her. I became the son of the soil, and they even gave me a piece of land where I grew vegetables,” he said.
“I have traversed several parts of the country in search of greener pastures. I have been in Makueni since the Nyayo era. I voted for all the last three Presidents and the current one while in Makueni. I have worked as a casual labourer in nearly all sub counties in the county. I finally enrolled for the elderly money while in the county,” he added.
The family has been looking for Machuka unsuccessfully, but they always hoped that he would return home one day.
“We have his portion of family land where he would be allowed to put a house. We will support him to settle. If there is a woman who has children she will be welcomed back home,” the uncles said.
“He has kept all the receipts from the bank in the Older Persons Cash Transfer Program. The integration process has been smooth. Tomorrow we are doing land demarcation and we have welcomed the area Assistant Chief to make the process formal,” Makomba said.
Machuka had three sons with his first wife.
“He named his first-born son, Bruce Machuka after the death of his then employer Bruce. He was later blessed with a second born and named him Richard Machuka,” he said.
For the last 3 days, Machuka has been visiting the surrounding shopping centers to learn about the developments that have happened since he left his home village.
“I am happy to be back home; this place looks wonderful. I will put up a home. I hope my children join me in putting up a home. I am now retired and thank God for the days he has given me on earth,” he said.
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