Nakuru, Kenya – In an emotional scene that left doctors, nurses, and onlookers in tears, Selina Paulo, a Tanzanian woman who disappeared from her family nearly two decades ago, was finally reunited with her elder brother Philipo Paulo Ombayo at the Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital on August 25, 2025.
For 17 long years, Selina’s whereabouts were a mystery. Her family in Tanzania searched relentlessly—visiting hospitals, police stations, and even morgues—without success. To them, she had vanished without a trace.
What they didn’t know was that Selina had been living silently inside a hospital ward in Kenya, battling a prolonged mental health condition that robbed her of memory and identity.
Family members recall that Selina, then in her mid-20s, left her home in Mwanza in 2008, saying she was traveling to Kenya in search of work. That was the last time they saw her. Weeks turned into months, and eventually, years of silence. Her parents died without closure, still hoping for her return.
According to hospital officials, Selina was admitted in 2008 after being found wandering near Nakuru town. She had no identification documents and could barely speak. Medical reports indicate she suffered from severe trauma and memory loss, making it nearly impossible to trace her family.
For years, she lived under the care of doctors and social workers, slowly regaining fragments of her past. It was only in early 2025 that she began recalling details—a name, a village, a brother.
Hospital staff contacted local authorities and cross-border agencies. With the help of Tanzanian officials and community networks, they traced Philipo Paulo Ombayo, now living in Dar es Salaam.
On August 25, when Philipo walked into the hospital ward, the reunion was nothing short of miraculous. Selina broke down in tears, clutching her brother in a tight embrace as decades of separation melted away. Nurses who had cared for her over the years wept openly.
“I had given up hope,” Philipo said in a trembling voice. “Seventeen years is a lifetime. To see her alive—God is great.”
Selina will now travel back to Tanzania to begin a new chapter with her family. Doctors say she is in good health, though she will require ongoing counseling to fully recover from years of isolation.
“This story reminds us why mental health care and cross-border collaboration matter,” said Dr. Mercy Koskei, the hospital’s chief psychiatrist. “Selina’s case is rare but not unique—many families still have missing loved ones.”
This extraordinary reunion is more than just a human-interest story; it shines a light on:
The silent struggles of mental health in Africa.
The resilience of families who never stop searching.
The power of regional cooperation in reuniting loved ones.
As Selina prepares to go home after 17 years, her story stands as a beacon of hope for families still waiting for their own miracle.
