When Alexander Badran, a Kenyan-born Lebanese decided to go public in his quest to trace his kin in Makueni, Kenya, he did not know that it would take less than a week to be reunited with them.
Badran was born of a Kenyan mother from Ukambani Jacinta Mueni Kitinga but his father Ahmad Yousef Badran was a Lebanese and still alive.
His mother has since passed on after committing suicide in 2008.
He told Nation in a recent interview that he was born in Mombasa Hospital and has a Kenyan birth certificate but is not a Kenyan by citizenship which he is yearning for.
For the first two years of his life, he lived in Kenya before moving to Lebanon.
Mueni’s kin back in Kenya have been wondering what became of her after leaving for Lebanon over two decades ago but have since learnt of her sad demise courtesy of Badran’s information.
“We learned about my sister’s death through the Nation’s article,” Mueni’s sister Lucy Kaluki told Nation at their home in Kaunguni Township, Makueni County.
Kaluki said that they have been receiving visitors in drives since the story was published.
Kaluki said that they last heard from Mueni 18 years ago – in 2002 – when she wrote them a letter and apologized for leaving the way she did.
“Nimuseo vamwe na mwana wakwa Alex na muse wakwa Ahmad (My son Alex, my husband Ahmad and I are doing well). I love and miss you a lot,” states the letter dated November 23, 2002.
John Moli, one of her cousins whom she confided in said Mueni has a passion for tourism and at one time she met a British man who she introduced to her family.
They all thought that she would end up with him but flew to Lebanon with her husband, Yusuf Badran who allegedly mistreated her forcing her to commit suicide.
Alexander has since gotten in touch with her aunt Kaluki and the family looks forward to better days together.
