A Mombasa family has expressed relief after their 18-year-old daughter, Hope Blessing Nzessi, who had been missing for several days, was traced to Nairobi.
Hope reportedly disappeared on Sunday, August 23, after leaving her home to buy food from a café in the Mwembe Tayari area of Mombasa. Her mother, Carolyne Rita Mutua, became increasingly worried when her daughter failed to return home and could not be reached through her phone.
As concern over Hope’s whereabouts grew, the family sought help from members of the public, hoping that anyone who had seen or interacted with the teenager would provide useful information. HAKI Africa also joined the search efforts and appealed to the public to share any details that could assist in locating her.
Speaking during a briefing on Tuesday, August 25, Mutua described the ordeal as extremely distressing, particularly because Hope is her only child. She provided additional information that could help identify her, noting that the teenager has a hearing impairment and is often seen wearing large headphones.
During the search, the family was contacted by a man who claimed to possess information about Hope’s whereabouts. According to Mutua, the individual later alleged that Hope’s phone required airtime or a recharge and subsequently requested money from her. The family reportedly remained cautious while attempting to determine whether the claims were genuine and establish what had happened to their daughter.
Mathias Shipeta, a Rapid Response Officer with HAKI Africa, had earlier called on the police and members of the public to assist in tracing Hope and determining her movements following her disappearance.
The search eventually ended successfully when Hope was found in Nairobi. Reports indicate that the teenager is currently receiving medical attention at a hospital.
Her family has confirmed that she is safe and expressed gratitude to everyone who shared information, offered assistance or participated in efforts to locate her.
Despite her safe recovery, questions remain about the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and how she travelled from Mombasa to Nairobi. The family has indicated that further information about how she was located and what happened during the period she was missing will be disclosed later.
For now, Hope’s safe return has brought considerable relief to her family and others who had been closely following the search for the teenager.