Kenyan Family Whose Kin Died in Saudi Arabia Appeals for Help to Transport Her Body

A Kenyan family is appealing for financial assistance to transport the remains of their kin who died under mysterious circumstances in Saudi Arabia.

32-year-old Lydia Ayila Amakobe from Lurambi, Kakamega County was working as a house help in the Gulf state from last August until last week when she was reportedly found dead in her room.

The circumstances of her death remain unclear and the family says they are unable to reach her employer or the agent who facilitated her travel to Saudi Arabia as his mobile phone was switched off.

The deceased’s father Benson Amakobe said the family has been given 12 days to raise Sh1.2 million to airlift her body to Kenya for burial failure to which it will be handed over to the authorities to dispose of. The family also needs to raise money for other burial expenses.

“We are going through a very difficult time. We are struggling to raise the money so that we can bring Lydiah’s body home for burial,” Amakobe told Nation.

“We are in the dark about what is going on and we appeal to the government, through our embassy in Saudi Arabia, to try and help us get the body of my daughter home for burial.”

Amakobe said his daughter traveled to the Middle East country without their knowledge and only disclosed her whereabouts after arriving there.

“We don’t know what to do, because the agent’s mobile phone has been switched off. I don’t know what to do as we are unable to raise the money to bring my daughter’s body home for burial,” Amakobe said.

He says his wife, who is diabetic, went into shock after learning of her daughter’s death in Saudi Arabia and is currently admitted to hospital.

“My wife has been unwell and has been battling diabetes for a long time. Her condition has been getting worse after she developed a wound on her leg. We are praying for her to get well soon. Last night, her condition got worse and I had to rush her to hospital.”