By Symon Ogeto in Chicago, Illinois
Filed at 12:30p.m. CT

File photo by /Eagle Tribune

May 24, 2004 (ML) -- Robert Kihara, a 23-year-old Kenyan national, is still missing seven months after he was last seen in Lowell, Ma., a small town where he lived, 40 miles north of Boston.

Kihara was the roommate of Benjamin Orlale, 37, another Kenyan that U.S. federal authorities extradited from Kenya May 15, to face trial for alleged rape, indecent assault and battery of a minor, in Massachusetts. Orlale appeared in the Lawrence District Court on May 17 and is scheduled for another court hearing June 9.

According to an article in the Eagle Tribune, a newspaper in North Andover, Ma., Kihara disappeared at about the same time that Orlale fled to Kenya under an assumed name. The paper reported that witnesses told police they saw Orlale driving Kihara's car Oct. 29, a day before the car was found abandoned at Logan International Airport in Boston. Investigators discovered blood spattered in the car.

Kihara was reported missing between Oct. 26 and Oct. 29 last year by another roommate. The missing man had shared housing with Orlale from May 2003 to the time Orlale was arrested in connection with rape of a child, indecent assault and battery of a child over 14.

Job Cherutich, educational attaché at the Kenyan Embassy in Washington said the mission did not have any information about Kihara's disappearance or the status of police investigation in the case. The Kenyan embassy, he said, has been having problems of tracking Kenyans in the U.S. because many do not register their names and addresses with the embassy.

"When Kenyans come to this country, we expect them to call in and register with us on there whereabouts,” Cherutich said. “But when this does not happen, the embassy is left helpless.”

On April 30, Essex District Attorney Jonathan W. Blodgett issued an announcement on Kihara’s disappearance. Kihara is described as black, with black hair, black eyes, standing 5 feet 5 inches and weighs 140 pounds. Anyone with information is asked to call Methuen Police Department at 978- 794-3245, ext. 128 or Massachusetts State Police at 978-745-8908.

Police in Massachusetts have named Orlale a prime suspect in Kihara’s disappearance. If the Kenyan is convicted on the initial charges of rape and indecent assault and battery of a minor he could face a life in prison under Massachusetts law.

A BBQ celebration of Madaraka Day
Calling all Chicago and Milwaukee Kenyans!
All Milwaukee and Chicago Kenyans, their families and friends are cordially invited to a BBQ celebration of Madaraka Day at the Lakewood Forest Preserve (Shelter D) in Wauconda, IL on Saturday, June 5, 2004 from 12 noon to 6 PM.

There will be lots of Nyama Choma and drinks along with games and activities for all ages commemorating this great event in Kenya’s history.  This event is sponsored jointly by the United Kenyans of Chicago (NFP) Organization and the Milwaukee Kenyan Community.

12 noon – 6 pm.
Lakewood Forest Preserve (Shelter D)
27900 North Forest Preserve Rd
Wauconda, Illinois.
(Click here for directions) [Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed]
(Click here for flier) [Adobe Acrobat Reader is needed]

Tickets to attend this celebration are:
• Children under 3 years-old admission is free
• Youth (3 to 12 years) $4.00
• All others $7.00 per person
• Family (couple + 2 children) $15.00 ($12.50 in advance)

* RSVP to reserve a ticket before May 29th and receive $1 off youth admission and $2 off adult (other) admission

All are welcome | Karibuni Nyote!

For more information please contact:
Chicago: email: info@chicagokenyans.org or call UKC 847-258-7214
Milwaukee: email: werhugo@aol.com or njugunamtalii@yahoo.com or call Mike Were 414-839-5019