Kisumu Family Appeals for KSh1.8 Million to Repatriate Kin’s Body from Lebanon
A cousin to the deceased, Barrack Ochieng, urged both national and county governments, as well as well-wishers, to intervene and support the grieving family.
By Ruth Sang
A grieving family in Kisumu County is appealing for urgent assistance from the government and well-wishers to raise KSh1.8 million needed to repatriate the body of their relative, Christina Brandy, who died in Lebanon after a prolonged illness.
Christina’s sister, Caroline Adhiambo Obuya, said the family is overwhelmed by the cost of bringing her remains back home following her death last week at a hospital in Beirut.
“We are completely overwhelmed. We have no means of raising the money required to bring her body back home,” Obuya said from their rural home in Kamrongo Village, Kisumu East Sub-county.
The family described the deceased as their sole breadwinner, noting that her passing has left them in financial and emotional distress. Christina had travelled to Lebanon in 2016 in search of better opportunities after years of supporting her relatives following the death of their parents.
“Since she left, she has been our only breadwinner,” Obuya said, adding that Christina had previously worked as a domestic worker in Nairobi before relocating abroad.
While in Lebanon, Christina developed serious health complications, including heart-related illness that required surgery. Her condition later worsened, leading to kidney failure last year.
“She became too weak to work and depended on friends for survival,” Obuya said.
Her 18-year-old daughter, Santada Chenogol, said the family is struggling to cope with the loss.
“My mother was everything to us. She struggled so much to provide, and now we don’t even have the means to bring her back home,” she said.
The family said Christina had been receiving medical support from Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), which helped cover her hospital bills at Rafik Hariri University Hospital.
However, they noted that the cost of repatriation remains beyond their reach. In a formal appeal to the State Department for Diaspora Affairs, the family has sought urgent government intervention to facilitate the return of her body for burial in Kenya.
They warned that due to financial constraints, they may be forced to consider cremation and shipment of ashes—an option they say goes against their wishes.
“We want to give our sister a dignified burial at home, but we are being pushed to the wall,” Obuya said.
A cousin, Barrack Ochieng, also called on both national and county governments, as well as well-wishers, to step in and support the family during the difficult period.
The family added that ongoing instability in Lebanon has complicated coordination efforts, further delaying the repatriation process.
Members of the public wishing to support the family can channel contributions through Caroline Adhiambo Obuya.
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