Nakuru Man Who Abandoned Family on Valentine’s Day 2006 Finally Returns Home After 20 Years
A joyous celebration unfolded in Subukia, Nakuru County, as family, friends, and neighbours gathered to welcome back a man who walked out on his family two decades ago.
Peter Mwangi Maina, who left his wife and children on Valentine’s Day in 2006, finally returned home, fulfilling a promise he had made years earlier to come back after 20 years. The reunion was marked by songs, chants, and colourful festivities, as the community celebrated the long-awaited return.
Maina’s wife, Miriam Mukami, recalled the painful day vividly. On February 14, 2006, Maina packed his belongings and left their home, leaving her three months pregnant with their third child.
He did not leave a note or explanation, only two shillings on the table. “When I came back home that Valentine’s Day, he was gone.
I was three months pregnant, and the shock made me very ill. Every Valentine’s Day after that became a painful reminder of his absence,” Mukami said.
Miriam shared how difficult it was to raise the children alone. “I had to step up and become both mother and father. He left nothing but two bob on the table. I endured a lot of stress and struggled to care for the children,” she explained.
She also said she never understood why her husband left, as they had a happy marriage without any major disputes. Mukami added that Maina had often warned that he would leave, claiming he would return after 20 years.
Maina’s Long Absence and Unexpected Return
After 20 years of separation, Maina was finally found in Kimende, Lari, where he had been working as a casual labourer for over a decade. His family had been searching for him tirelessly, reaching out through media and public appeals. Seeing their messages on Inooro TV, Maina decided it was time to return home.
However, his explanation for leaving shocked many. Maina claimed that repeated disrespect from his wife and conflicts within their home drove him away.
He specifically pointed out an incident the day before Valentine’s Day 2006. “I had asked my wife to warm my bathing water while I was at work.
When I came back, she had not done it and just shrugged it off while talking to her friends. That was the last straw for me. I thought about all the disrespect I had endured, and I went to cry alone.
I packed my clothes into a paper bag, hid them under the bed, and left the next day,” he explained.
A Joyful Reunion
Maina finally returned to his family on a sunny January day, bringing tears of joy, especially for his firstborn daughter, who had worked tirelessly to locate him over the years.
The homecoming was filled with music, dancing, and happiness as the community joined in the celebrations. Despite the long separation, the family has decided to move forward, forgiving past grievances and embracing a fresh start together.
“I am very happy to be back. I am grateful to my wife for raising our children on her own; they have all grown into fine adults. I feel glad and relieved to be home,” said an emotional Maina.
The reunion not only healed a 20-year-old family wound but also turned a painful Valentine’s Day memory into a story of forgiveness, hope, and new beginnings for the family in Subukia.
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