BY BETTY LUKE
The family of James Lojorin, a National Police Reservist (NPR) who went missing under unclear circumstances nearly a week ago, has demanded answers from authorities on the whereabouts of their loved one.
Mr Lojorin had gone shopping in Isiolo town on December 23 in readiness for Christmas when he disappeared.
“He usually arrives home by 6 pm, but when we called him that evening, his phone was unreachable,” his wife, Ngimat Loumwa recalled during an interview at their home within Manyatta zebra village in Ngaremara ward, Isiolo County.
Shockingly, a wrecked Toyota Probox that the missing person was using on the material day was discovered the following day near Uaso Girls within Achers Post in neighbouring Samburu County.
“We carried out a thorough search around the area where the vehicle was found, but could not trace him. I suspect local politics could be the reason my uncle is missing,” Lojorin’ nephew Peter Ekwam said.
The wife lamented that despite reporting a missing person report the following day, police are yet to brief the family the progress of investigations.
The family wants the government to investigate the reason behind the abduction and secure the release of their kin who they said was their sole bread winner.
“Who will take us to school now, who will buy us clothes? How will we live without our father?” Lojorin’s daughter Jacinta Sande posed.
The daughter, who just completed Form Four, is worried that her dream could be shattered in the absence of her father.
According to the family, the police reservist had prior to his disappearance reported being threatened by the area chief but no action was taken.
Reports indicate that the disappearance might have been occasioned by ongoing wrangles among community members who should manage sand harvesting along the River Ewaso Nyiro.
They said the missing person had continuously engaged in streamlining sand harvesting to benefit the local residents and that he had committed no crime.
“We have continuously appealed to the local administrators and the National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) to intervene and address the existing wrangles but they did not. The outcome is clear- disappearances,” noted John Long’ole, a neighbour.
They called on the investigating agencies to summon and question the local chief to shed light on the allegations leveled against him.
Ngimat Loumwa appealed to the government to help find her husband noting that,”They must tell us where he is and if he did anything wrong, present him in court to face the charges,” she said.
The call comes amidst three more abduction incidents reported across the county in a fortnight.
County Commissioner David Kiprop on Saturday assured the affected families that the government is committed to tracing and reuniting missing persons with their families, urging calm among members of the public.
