
Saudi Arabia
- 231 views
A family in Nandi County is facing profound grief and frustration following the unexpected burial of their relative, Vailet Kayesi, in Saudi Arabia, far from her home in Kapsabet.
Kayesi, who had been employed as a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia since 2009, passed away in August 2024. Her family had sent Sh180,000 to facilitate the repatriation of her body to Kenya, only to discover later that she had been buried in Saudi Arabia under unclear circumstances Kayesi’s sudden death, compounded by her role as the primary breadwinner for the family, took a devastating turn when communication with her ceased earlier in August.
The news of her passing reached her family through a neighbour, who mentioned that Kayesi had died under mysterious conditions. In the aftermath, the family has encountered numerous setbacks in their efforts to retrieve her remains. Kayesi's mother Mary Minayo voices her distress over the situation, expressing a strong desire for her daughter's remains to be exhumed and repatriated to Kenya.
She reveals that fraudsters had exploited the family’s predicament, demanding funds under the pretence of aiding in the repatriation process. After receiving Sh180,000, these individuals vanished, leaving the family further isolated in their grief. Initially, the family was informed that Kayesi's body was being preserved in a morgue in Jeddah. Determined to bring her home, they organized fundraisers and night vigils.
However, three months after her passing, it was revealed to them by a friend that Kayesi had already been buried by Saudi authorities, which abruptly halted their preparations for burial in Kenya. Following her inquiries to the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Minayo received a letter dated December 9, 2024, confirming the burial. The letter stated that Kayesi’s body had decomposed in a hospital in Jeddah and was subsequently interred by local authorities to mitigate health risks.
The ministry clarified that the Kenyan consulate had not been notified before the burial and noted that Kayesi was discovered deceased in her apartment after having been missing for several days. Autopsy reports indicated no foul play in her death. As the family comes to terms with the loss, they remain troubled by inconsistencies surrounding Kayesi’s phone, which has shown intermittent activity. Relative Elizabeth Mmbone reports instances where calls to the number were answered, with only indistinct background noises heard.
Minayo is now appealing to the Kenyan government for assistance to bring closure to this troubling ordeal.