Families and neighbours in Subukia, Nakuru County, were recently overcome with emotion after a man who abandoned his wife and children 20 years ago finally returned home, just days before Valentine’s Day.
Peter Mwangi Maina disappeared from his home on February 14, 2006, leaving his wife, Miriam Mukami, three months pregnant and struggling to raise their children alone.
Mukami said she returned home that evening to find her husband gone, his clothes missing, and only two shillings left on the table.
From that moment, Valentine’s Day became a painful reminder of betrayal. Despite the heartbreak, Mukami said she had no choice but to step up and become both mother and father to her children, raising them through years of hardship and emotional strain.
Many Kenyans have reacted strongly to the story, with some expressing sympathy for the wife while others questioned whether any reason could justify leaving a family for 20 years.
For two decades, the family had no idea where Maina had gone. He was eventually traced to Kimende in Lari, where he had been living and working as a casual labourer.
His decision to return came after he saw his family appealing for help on television and asking him to come back home.
When he finally spoke, Maina’s explanation shocked many. He claimed that repeated disrespect in his marriage pushed him to leave, accusing his wife of involving outsiders in private disagreements.
He said the final straw came when he returned home one evening and found that his bathing water had not been warmed, despite asking earlier.
This explanation has further divided opinion, with many Kenyans questioning whether it justified abandoning his pregnant wife and children for two decades.
The reunion was emotional. Neighbours sang and danced as Maina reunited with his now-grown children. His firstborn daughter, who had tirelessly searched for him over the years, broke down in tears as she welcomed him home.
The family has since chosen forgiveness, saying they want to let bygones be bygones and begin a new chapter together.
