A family from Bogeka Mariba village in Kitutu Chache, Kisii County, is appealing for ksh 800,000 from well-wishers to repatriate the body of their daughter, Felista Kemunto, from Baghdad, Iraq, more than a month after her death. The 32-year-old died after falling ill while working as a domestic worker in Iraq. Her mother noticed her health deteriorating and urged her to seek treatment, but she waited to return home.
The family from Bogeka Mariba village in Kitutu Chache, Kisii County, has been grappling with challenges since the death of their 32-year-old daughter, Felista Kemunto, who had worked in Baghdad for three years. She was set to return home on January 4, but her condition worsened days earlier. During their last conversation on January 2, her mother noticed her tongue was swollen and her voice had changed significantly. "She was supposed to arrive on January 4. She told me, 'Mum, you will come to pick me up with the children.' When I spoke to her on the 2nd, her speech had changed. I asked her to seek treatment there, but she insisted she would do so once she came home," her mother said.
Kemunto passed away a few days later, leaving the family to struggle with repatriation costs. They have managed to raise only ksh 50,000 through local contributions. Holding a contribution book, her father stated, "This book shows all the contributions we have received. My daughter's boss is telling us that after two months, they will cremate her body if the money is not paid."
The family says they cannot afford the ksh 800,000 on their own and estimates it would take up to two years to mobilize the funds. They have appealed to government authorities for help but claim no official has visited or provided support since raising the issue. This case highlights broader problems faced by Kenyan migrant workers, particularly women, with hundreds dying abroad in recent years and Iraq among the reporting countries. Human rights groups have voiced concerns over medical neglect, harsh working conditions, and delayed responses when workers fall ill overseas. The government has introduced recent reforms, including 24/7 consular support and mobile consular services to reach citizens in various regions.