A family in Karuruma village, Runyenjes, Embu County, is mourning under heartbreaking circumstances after their daughter, who had been working in Saudi Arabia, was buried there without their knowledge or consent.
The deceased, identified as Catherine Nyawira, had travelled to the Gulf nation in 2011 in search of employment and had lived there for 15 years. Sadly, she passed away on August 1, 2025.
Her relatives back in Embu say they were notified of her death and informed that Saudi authorities had given them 25 days to repatriate the body. They were asked to raise KSh 450,000 to facilitate transportation and other expenses.
The family immediately began fundraising, hopeful of bringing their loved one home for a dignified burial. However, on August 16, before the grace period had expired, they received devastating news that Nyawira had already been buried in Saudi Arabia.
Her grieving mother expressed anguish, questioning how she is expected to accept her daughter’s death without even viewing her body. The family says their right to give her a final farewell in line with their traditions was taken away.
They are now calling on the Kenyan government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and human rights organizations to intervene, demanding justice and accountability in a case that has raised serious questions about the handling of Kenyan migrant workers who die abroad.
