A young girl’s desperate plea for help has finally given her mother the dignified farewell she deserved, after Ruth Ndongola’s remains lay unclaimed at Kenyatta National Hospital mortuary for close to a month.
The case drew public attention after Ruth’s daughter, Baby Emilian, walked into the offices of former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko seeking assistance.
Her mother’s body had remained at the mortuary while efforts to settle outstanding bills and identify the family dragged on, leaving the child in a painful limbo.
The Search That Led to Makueni County
Early information pointed to a possible Congolese connection for Ruth’s family, a trail that ultimately led nowhere. Sonko’s team pressed on nonetheless, and their persistence paid off when they traced Ruth’s father, Dennis Ndongola, to Makueni County, specifically Nzakika Ward, Kithumba Location, Mulangoni Village in Makueni Constituency.
Ruth was confirmed to be Kamba by birth, not Congolese as had been suggested.
The confusion stemmed from the name Ndombolo, which is also common in Congo, creating an early misidentification that complicated the search significantly.
Area Chief Nicodemus Muteti played a key role in linking Sonko’s team with Ruth’s family on the ground, and was singled out for thanks for bringing clarity to the situation.
Ruth Ndogola buried
A final funeral and burial preparation meeting took place at Sonko’s Upper Hill offices, bringing together family members and well-wishers in anticipation of the burial.
Sonko confirmed that local authorities and the testimonies gathered had satisfied his team that Dennis Ndongola is indeed Ruth’s biological father, though a DNA test remains an option for the following week if required.
“For Baby Emilian, this is more than a burial. It is about giving her mother a dignified farewell, finding her roots and bringing closure to a heartbreaking chapter,” Sonko wrote, reflecting on what the moment meant for the young girl.
Baby Emilian will now have the chance to say a proper goodbye, surrounded by her mother’s people and supported by those who refused to let the case go unresolved.
Sonko pledged that his team would continue to walk alongside her as she grows, describing her journey ahead as long but not one she would face alone.
“No child deserves to experience such loss at such a tender age,” he noted, extending condolences to Dennis Ndongola and the entire family as they prepare to lay Ruth to rest.
