A family in Tuthu, Kangema, Murang’a is in agony following the disappearance of their kin three weeks ago.

Joseph Irungu, a fourth year student at the Cooperative University of Kenya reportedly went missing mysteriously on April 13 and his whereabouts remain unknown.

Efforts by the family to trace the whereabouts of the 23 years old have borne no fruits and they are now worried about his safety.

His mother Joyce Wanjiku says the son was set to sit for his final exam and she is worried that the four academic years might go to waste if he is not found.

The distressed mother said she had spoken to Irungu over the phone on Sunday 13th and he did not sound disturbed nor did he say anything was bothering him.

“Later in the evening I called him several times but he did not answer the calls and it was very unusual and we got worried something might have happened to him,” said the mother.

“The following day, I called him and the calls went answered until the phone went off on Tuesday evening,” she added. Wanjiku said she reached out to one of Irungu’s cousins telling him to go and check on him in school but he was told he had not reported to class.

“The cousin was given two of his classmates to accompany him to where Irungu was staying and the caretaker told them he was last seen on Sunday,” she remarked.

Desperate to find him, they tried reaching out to his friends and other relatives but none had seen or heard from him. “They even went to the hospitals and morgues around Nairobi, but there was no trace of him” said the mother. Onesmus Maina, a family member said Irungu is a quiet young man who was focused on his studies and keen to pursue his career.

Maina said the turn of events have left them disturbed and with each passing day with no answers, the family is sinking into despair.

“We are keeping hope alive that he will be found safe and re-unite with other family members so that we can be at peace,” said Maina.