By Denis Lumiti
A family in Ikolomani, Kakamega County is living in anguish following the disappearance of their first born child seven months ago.
An argument between 16-year-old Margaretta Mukhavi Baliseneka and her mother saw her walk out of their home on July 22, 2020 never to return.
When she left home, the parents of the Form Three student at Kenya High School thought she was going to relax with her female friends in the neighbourhood as was her norm.
Her parents said the girl, who claimed one of the top positions in the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education Examination in 2017, had never exhibited any unruliness before.
“Margaretta is my first-born with an only sister in Standard Five. In 2017 she was the top student in Ikolomani with 426 marks and had continued the trend at Kenya High. She aspired to do Medicine at the university,” said her distraught father Albert Bukhala Baliseneka.
Speaking at their home at Malinya village, the parents said they had searched for their daughter in every part of the country without success.
Baliseneka said his daughter was focused and disciplined and he still wonders what transpired on that fateful Wednesday.
“She had demonstrated leadership skills from offering sermons at Musingu Quakers Sunday school to being appointed captain of Chania House at Kenya High,” he said.
Baliseneka said when Margaretta returned home following the closure of learning institutions due to the Covid-19, her school ensured she was kept busy through online studies.
“The school kept her busy on zoom early mornings but the village girls also wanted a piece of her. We thought it was fair to share only to discover that the girls had a different agenda. They were linking her with boyfriends,” he said.
“We got wind about the affair and her mother had an altercation with her over the matter and that is when she left,” he added.
Her mother Nancy Manogo said she reprimanded her daughter as any parent would and did not expect that it would lead to her disappearance.
The family reported the matter to Malinya Police Station and a search was mounted but never yielded any fruits.
Baliseneka said a girl who was last seen with his daughter was questioned by the police but she didn’t provide any information that would help in the search.
“The girl, who was in Form Four, got married immediately she was set free by the police,” said Baliseneka.
Margaretta’s only sister, Judy Nandemi, 12, pleaded with her to return home if she is alive.
Her mother also pleaded with her daughter to come back home wherever she was or whatever her condition.
“Please come back home even if you eloped with a man or you are expectant. Help us bring this anguish to an end,” said her mother.
