I placed my trust in his love, yet his presence was meant to destroy everything in my life.

Evon Wanjiku was born and raised in Murang’a. She studied up to Form Four. Life was not easy for her growing up. When she was in Form Two, she met a man, and by Form Three she became pregnant. Despite this, she continued with her education until she gave birth. The man was supportive and did not deny responsibility for the pregnancy. Her parents were devastated when they learned she was expecting, but later they accepted the situation. After completing Form Four, Evon had hope because she and her baby’s father had agreed to support each other. Sadly, six months later, he and his father were involved in an accident and both passed away. Evon was heartbroken, as she had planned a future with him. After the burial in Uganda, Evon took her child to her parents so she could begin looking for work. She met a friend, and they agreed to share rent and household bills. Unfortunately, it was difficult for Evon at first because she did not have a job. A man introduced her to construction work. The job was tough, and many men tried to take advantage of her, but she stood firm. Eventually, her friend asked her to move out, saying she could no longer stay with her. The man who had given her work offered her a place to live. Since she did not have enough money to rent her own house, she agreed. At first, he treated her well, but when she became pregnant, he began mistreating her. He even beat her when she was only one month pregnant. At three months, after her mother told her something that angered him, he beat her again mercilessly and even pulled out her freshly done hair. Evon moved out, and her sister helped her. After some months, she returned to his house when he apologized. However, things did not change. He continued to disrespect her, came home late at night, and refused to answer her questions. When she gave birth, he did not visit her in the hospital and even refused to name the child. Evon had to name the baby after her own father. After being discharged, he forced her to walk a long distance despite her recent caesarean section. At home, he did not help with household chores, and life became unbearable for her and the child. She decided to leave. While she was at the bus stage leaving with her child, he confronted her, demanding that she give him the first hair she had shaved from the baby. He caused a scene in front of people, insisting she find it wherever she had thrown it. Evon managed to return to her mother’s home. She searched for work and fortunately found a job at a company. When the child was 11 months old, she got another job as a house help, with her sister helping to care for the baby. She saved enough money to rent her own house. Later, she worked in a hotel, but the pay was low and the hours were long. Eventually, she found another job that was going well. One day, she heard a knock at her door. When she opened it, her baby’s father was there. He later went to report her to the chief, and she was summoned. At the chief’s office, they could not agree. He wanted to see the child but refused to provide child support. They were advised to go to the children’s department. One day, as Evon was returning home from work, she found her firstborn crying at the door. The child told her that the police had come and taken both the child and Evon’s mother. The child was later admitted to hospital because they had carried the baby on a motorbike without a sweater. When Evon visited, she was denied permission to stay overnight at the hospital. On the tenth day, when she returned, she discovered that the father had run away with the child. To this day, Evon does not know where her child was taken. She misses her child deeply and has no idea where to begin searching. She needs help to locate her child, who was taken away by the father without her consent.