- A week after Ian Gichagua went missing from school, his family and teachers can finally sleep in peace
- The Form Two boy had gone missing on Sunday morning when his classmates went to church, a situation that led to a massive search
- His reason for running away from school and where he had been hiding for weeks left his parents baffled
After many days of worry and sleeplessness, the family of Ian Gichagua has now breathed a sigh of relief after finding him safe and reunited with them.
Source: Facebook
The Second Form boy, who had been reported missing since September, returned home on October 28, thus ending the search that had been going on for some time.
The events that led to the disappearance of Ian Gichagua
Ian, 15, a bright student at Njumbi Boys’ High School, was doing well until October 17, when his mother, Jennifer Muthoni, received a message from the school.
The school management informed the parents that the school would be closed the next day and the students would be allowed to go on the long December vacation.
Muthoni received the news with joy as his son had stayed in school for the entire semester despite the school’s insistence that students who owed school fees would be sent home.
Since he did not have the money to pay the entire balance, he asked the school to allow his son to continue his studies while looking for a way to pay before the end of the semester; the school meekly agreed.
How Ian’s mother discovered her son’s disappearance
Ultimately, the school’s decision to allow Ian to remain in school led to his disappearance.
On September 27, students who owed fees were sent home, but Ian was not among them, much to his mother’s delight as the school had kept its promise.
On the closing day of school, October 18, Mother Ian waited for a message to confirm that her son was on his way home, but she did not receive any information.
Knowing that the school usually lets students out early and the trip takes an hour to get home, he started to worry and called one of the teachers who told him that the school closed early.
Source: UGC
Why did Ian Gichagua escape?
Businessman and philanthropist Ndung’u Nyoro narrated how the young man escaped from school in the middle of Sunday morning while his colleagues were heading to church.
Angry at not being sent home because of the tax debt, despite having a huge debt, the young man decided to leave on his own.
He went to Murang’a town, where he borrowed a phone and called his sister, who sent him the fare to Joska.
While there, Ian got a part-time job on a large farm, surveying work sites for workers until colleagues saw his missing post online and advised him to call his mother.
His family immediately reported his return to the Nyakianga Police Station, where Ian was confirmed to be him.
Why didn’t the school notice his disappearance
According to the school administration, the class teacher thought the student was sent home because of tuition debt, as has happened before.
They found out he was missing that evening after the principal called to ask if he had allowed him to come home.
That’s when the boy’s parents found out that their son had been missing for almost three weeks without the school knowing.
When they were interviewed, the class leader said that Ian had said he was feeling bad and would ask permission after the church service on Sunday, September 28.
Since then, the school has recognized the lapse in communication and has introduced new measures to prevent such incidents from happening again.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
