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Mule's dad Edward Yesse told Capital FM News that the government keeps asking them to wait a little while but it is unclear when exactly they will be allowed to go back home/FILE

Kenya

Families of 2 freed Kenyans yet to see them

Mule's dad Edward Yesse told Capital FM News that the government keeps asking them to wait a little while but it is unclear when exactly they will be allowed to go back home/FILE

Mule’s dad Edward Yesse told Capital FM News that the government keeps asking them to wait a little while but it is unclear when exactly they will be allowed to go back home/FILE

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 31- About three days have gone by since the release of the two Kenyans who were abducted by Somalia’s Al Shabaab militants in January 2012.

And despite numerous assurances from the government that Mule Yesse and Fredrick Irungu have already gone back to their homes, their families are yet to lay their eyes on them, let alone hug and enjoy each others’ embrace.

The anxiety notwithstanding, it has become a waiting game for the two families as they look forward to being reunited with their loved ones.

Mule’s dad Edward Yesse told Capital FM News that the government keeps asking them to wait a little while but it is unclear when exactly they will be allowed to go back home.

“No, we have not seen him but we normally talk to him every day to confirm to him that we are preparing for his return home. After one and a half years being in Somalia, the reasoning of the government is that he should rest first before joining us,” he said smiling.

Further reports had indicated that the two individuals were being debriefed by the Kenya Defence Forces in Nairobi before they are finally ‘cleared.’

Sources said that they must undergo medical checkups, psychosocial analysis as well as an intelligence analysis before being released from the government’s custody.

Yesse however maintained that the fact that his son was safe and sound was reason enough for him to smile and laugh.

A grand ‘bash’ will also be held to celebrate the return of his son from the wilderness.

“I can confirm that he is in Nairobi and I have talked to him and he hasn’t complained of any sickness or pain. He is in very high spirits and he is just waiting for the family reunion,” he explained.

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Mule’s wife Mona Garisse also spoke of her joy saying she looked forward to seeing him again.

She also said that her husband’s physical appearance hadn’t changed much save for his overgrown beard.

“In the first photo that the Al Shabaab released of him in captivity, he looked scared and he had lost a lot of weight. But in the second one, he seemed okay to me although he had a lot of facial hair,” she said smiling.

Garisse explained how difficult the last 18 months have been on her and the family, worrying about the whereabouts of her loved one.

She particularly cited the loneliness that followed her husband’s long period of captivity saying her faith in God kept her sane and strong.

“It has not been easy. You can imagine being used to living together with someone and doing everything together and then all of a sudden you are left alone,” she recalled.

“But I thank God that he is safe because I used to pray a lot and I can say prayers were my weapon.”

Irungu’s wife Eunice Waithera also told Capital FM News that she was still waiting for her husband to be released into her custody.

She said that the only assurance that the government had given the family was that Irungu was in Kenya.

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Waithera added that it seemed as if the media had more information than she did.

Although the families might be anxious to finally lay their eyes on the two captives, their joy is contagious.

And as journalists camp outside the Yesse family’s home in Buruburu Estate waiting to be the first to break news of their return home, that contagious joy is definitely refreshing.

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