- Joy Wanjiru, a 16-year-old student at Kenya High School, was found alive after being missing for more than five weeks
- A good Samaritan spotted Joy stranded in Runda, Thika, near Mount Kenya University, and contacted her family
- Fresh details have emerged revealing where the young student had been during that time and why she ran away from home
The family of Joy Wanjiru are overjoyed and grateful after she was found following more than five weeks of being missing.
Source: Facebook
The 16-year-old Form Three student at Kenya High School disappeared on April 1 after school closed for the Easter holidays, leaving her family deeply worried and desperately searching for her.
Fortunately, she was found alive after a good Samaritan contacted the family after spotting her in the Runda area of Thika.
Following her return, new details have emerged explaining where she had been during the agonising five weeks and why she decided to run away.
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Joy’s mother spoke publicly for the first time since her daughter was found, expressing her relief and gratitude.
How was Joy Wanjiru found?
“Welcome home. We love you so much. I really want to thank God. I have prayed throughout this difficult period, and even when I felt like giving up, He still gave me the strength to wait for my daughter,” said Esther Gathigia.
She revealed that she received a call from a well-wisher on the morning of Monday, May 11, informing her that she had spotted Joy stranded in Runda, Thika, near Mount Kenya University.
The woman took the 16-year-old girl in, then later escorted her to Athena Police Station.
“I went to the DCI so they could help me confirm whether the woman was telling the truth because we had earlier received false calls from conmen. I even asked the lady to take a photo of Joy, and once she did, we were convinced it was truly her,” Esther shared emotionally.
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Source: Facebook
Where was Joy Wanjiru during and why did she run away?
The young student reportedly borrowed money from members of the public to pay for bus fare from Karatina to Thika.
She had allegedly been sleeping on the streets during the weeks she was missing.
According to her family, Joy ran away because she was struggling emotionally with a decline in her academic performance at school.
“The schools had reopened, and my daughter had still not returned. She loves school and enjoys studying, yet she was nowhere to be seen. Even her teachers were waiting for her to report back. I went through so much,” her mother stated.
Jackline Kagu, an activist and well-wisher who closely followed Joy’s case and the online search efforts, noted that children run away from home for different reasons.
“Some run away because of problems at home, while others leave because of poor grades. A child who is used to getting an A may suddenly get a C and become devastated, not knowing where to turn. Some are on scholarships and fear they might lose them, so they choose to run away,” said Kagu.
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Esther added that Joy only sustained injuries to her eyes but had already been examined by an optician and was expected to recover well.
Source: GossipsNG
