Kenyan Woman Dies After Receiving News of Daughter’s Death in Saudi Arabia

A woman in Kakamega County collapsed and died upon receiving news of her daughter’s death in the Middle East, where she worked as a house help.

A family representative said Joyce Felesia Shitawa fainted and was rushed to a local hospital, where she died from a heart attack days later.

Her daughter Rael Aketch, 37, is reported to have committed suicide at a police station in Saudi Arabia on April 5th.

Jackson Matendechere, a relative, said Felesia remained in a coma for four days and died at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Referral Hospital in Kisumu.

“…medics discovered that she had high blood pressure, and the veins at the back of her head had burst, causing blood to leak into her brain,” he told The Standard.

Aketch left the country for the Gulf state in December 2021 to look for greener pastures, with the hope of supporting her mother and two children.

Aketch is said to have had a disagreement with her employer and had taken refuge at South Damman Police Station, where she allegedly killed herself inside the cells.

“She had traveled to Saudi Arabia to work for her boss but things proved to be difficult between the two. Due to the differences, she reported the matter to the police and committed suicide while in police custody. What we are asking is how a police station where people who seek refuge can turn into a crime scene? We are very shocked and we call in the police to give us a detailed report on what transpired,” the family representative posed.

The family is pleading with the government to intervene and investigate the death of their kin as well as help them bring back her remains for burial.

“We have lost two of our loved ones and we just call on the government to help bring out kin back home,” a family member said.