Army Soldier 'Overwhelmed' After Being Reunited With Daughter

A soldier has been reunited with his daughter following a four-month battle to secure a visa to allow her to live with him in Scotland.

Lance Corporal Denis Omondi serves with the 3rd Battalion of the Royal Regiment of Scotland and he has now been joined by in the Highlands his daughter Ann after the Home Office changed their decision.

Before their reunion at the airport in Scotland, Lance Corporal Omondi had not seen his daughter for over a year.

"I just feel overwhelmed at the support received, especially from my MP Drew Hendry and his team," says the Lance Corporal.

"I have no words to thank him... it is just something I didn't expect."

The Home Office initially refused an application for Ann to live with her father, who has uncontested custody of her.

After a four-month battle, the decision to allow her to move over from Kenya was reversed.

"I'm so happy to be with my dad and my mum - she's not my step-mum, but my mum."

Her stepmother Shelagh has tirelessly campaigned for Ann to be granted the right to stay with them.

Lance Corporal Omondi has served with The Black Watch for eight years and completed tours of Afghanistan, Iraq and Cyprus.

His wife says people who serve in the British Army should deserve better treatment than the one received by the Lance Corporal.

"There must be hundreds of Commonwealth families who are separated."

Drew Hendry MP told Forces News everyone was 'delighted' earlier this month when the decision was confirmed.

The Omondis family's local MP, Drew Hendry, joined the campaign for Ann to be granted to right to live in the UK and he raised the issue at Prime Minister's Questions earlier this year.

"If you come to serve in the Armed Forces, then you should be able to bring your family with you. It is just the right thing to do," says Mr Hendry.

"If you're willing to have your life on the line, then you should be able to have your family with you."