Standard Media cartoonist James Kamawira has found his 18-year-old son, Jesses James Kamawira, admitted to a hospital after going missing for one month.
According to the journalist renowned for the decades-long Babu comic in the Standard newspaper, Jesse left home for a church service in Nakuru town on December 10 last year while riding a blue bicycle.
Several kilometres into his ride, an unknown car hit him and fled the scene of the accident without any trace.
Traffic police who were patrolling the area rescued the teenager and rushed him to Nakuru Level 5 Hospital in Nakuru CBD.
A doctor's report indicated that Jesse suffered a severe concussion that plunged him into a two-week coma.
Upon recovery, the medical practitioners realised that he had suffered memory loss, forcing them to extend his admission as they monitored his progress.
His father and other family members were at that time frantically searching for him and even filed missing person reports with various organisations. One of the organisations shared the report online, urging Kenyans who were privy to Jesse's whereabouts to reach out to the parents.
"Last seen on December 10, 2023, in his home area around JOMEC, Mwariki, Nakuru County. He was last seen wearing grey ragged jeans trousers, a black hoodie with a Ferrari logo, and a pair of black suede shoes. He was also riding a blue mountain bike. Jesse is a form three student at Goshen Boys High School. A report was made at Mwariki Police Station."
"Anyone with information, please call the Missing Child Kenya Toll-Free Line at 0800-22-33-44 or contact your nearest Police Station or Directorate of Children's Services (DCS) Sub County Children's Office," the report read.
It was through the poster that one of the doctors recognised Jesse and alerted the family. He also shared his medical condition and how the doctors had monitored his progress since admission.
His family was also relieved to learn that he had only sustained minor injuries from the accident.
Upon being reunited, Jesse struggled to reconnect with his family, but the memories gradually returned after they interacted for a while.
"Jesses has been found! He was admitted unconscious, a victim of a hit and run. He has been reunited with his family. Thank you to everyone who shared his missing report," Brygettes Ngana, a Nakuru-based NTV journalist and Kamawira's acquaintance, stated.
Jesses incurred a bill of Ksh46,000 only, but doctors indicated that the charges may rise owing to subsequent visits.
