What was meant to be a joyful family reunion for a Kenyan family in the United States has taken a heartbreaking turn, after their beloved patriarch mysteriously vanished just hours after arriving.
Reuben Waithaka, 72, had travelled over 13,000 kilometres from Kenya to Alabama, filled with excitement and pride to witness his grandson graduate from high school - a milestone he did not want to miss.
According to CNN, he went to the US bearing heartfelt gifts: old, treasured photos of his son as a young boy, and matching African print shirts for himself, his son, and his grandson - a symbolic gesture meant to unite three generations in one beautiful, memorable moment.
The reunion had been planned for months. Waithaka arrived early, eager to soak in family time and create new memories.
But just one day after landing, the dream turned into a nightmare. On a quiet morning in Calera, Alabama, he stepped outside his son’s home — and never returned.
The last trace of him is a doorbell camera video that shows him neatly dressed in khaki trousers, a blue-and-white checked shirt, and black shoes. It was 11:08 am when he walked out, and since then, there has been no sign of him.
His disappearance has left the family shattered and in disbelief. What was supposed to be a celebration of legacy, love, and pride has instead become a desperate search filled with anguish and unanswered questions.
As police and volunteers continue the search, the family holds on to hope, praying that the man who travelled halfway across the world to be with his family will be found safe.
Seven weeks after his disappearance, there is still no trace of Reuben Waithaka. Authorities in Calera, Alabama, have scoured the surrounding wooded areas using helicopters, drones, off-road vehicles, tracking dogs, and thermal imaging cameras, but all efforts have yielded no leads.
The city, home to around 19,000 residents and located roughly 48 kilometres south of Birmingham, has been gripped by the mystery.
Waithaka's family remains heartbroken, holding on to hope even as the silence deepens.
The family has retraced Waithaka’s steps and watched the surveillance footage over and over, searching for clues, with no success.
