The family of abducted KDF soldier Gershom Wanyonyi whose photo and clip went viral on social media, narrating his suffering in the hands of Al-Shabab militants at  El Adde in Somalia in January 2016, has appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to intervene and secure his release.

 Speaking to the People Daily at her Chepkaka home in Saboti sub-county, the missing soldier’s mother Rizpah Wasike said her son was the family’s bread winner and his incarceration had affected the family.

“ In 2016, when several soldiers were killed by Al-Shabaab militants, as a family, we lost hope thinking he had been killed in the attack. We were overjoyed seeing him on social media stating that he was lucky to be alive,” said Wasike.

 She led the family in thanksgiving and asked for divine intervention to have her son released from the hands of the  militants.

 Silvia Wasike; a sister to the soldier, said that her brother was the source of strength and a great pillar to the family and asked President Uhuru to personally intervene.

“Our brother was the only hope for us, as he used to fend for us, he took care of us and provided for each of our personal needs. We thank God for his safety and we are praying that he finds favour in the hands of the Almighty God,” she said.

She explained how her mother was emotionally and now physically affected on the assumption  that her son might have been killed by the militants.

“My mother suffered stroke following the bad news she received concerning the attack of Kenya KDF Camp at El Adde,” she said.

The El Adde KDF camp was attacked by the insurgents, killing dozens of soldiers and leaving others nursing serious  injuries.