Narok Family Seeks KSh 1.5 Million to Repatriate Daughter Who Died in Thailand

A family in Narok County is seeking help to bring home the body of their daughter, Mercylinda Jerop, who died after falling ill while working in Thailand. 

They say the cost of repatriation and medical bills has left them unable to meet the expenses. Jerop travelled to Thailand in June 2025 through an employment agent and later found work as an English teacher. According to her mother, Grace Koskei, she settled into her new job and was hopeful about her future.

Her health began to decline a few months later. Koskei said her daughter was initially reluctant to seek medical treatment but was eventually admitted to hospital in a critical condition. Doctors diagnosed her with pneumonia. Although she received treatment, her condition worsened, and she was transferred to the intensive care unit, where she remained for two months before she died.

Koskei said she still remembers her last conversation with her daughter. Jerop told her she was suffering from severe headaches, stomach pain, back pain and difficulty breathing. After that call, the family was unable to speak to her again and received updates only from the hospital.

The family now faces a bill of about KSh 1.5 million, covering hospital expenses and the cost of returning Jerop's body to Kenya. They have organised fundraising efforts but have not yet raised enough money. They have also asked the Kenyan Embassy in Thailand for assistance and are waiting for a response.

Jerop's case reflects the challenges some Kenyans encounter while working abroad. Although overseas employment offers opportunities for better incomes, workers may face difficulties accessing healthcare and support when serious problems arise.

For Koskei and her family, the immediate priority is to return Jerop's body to Kenya so she can be buried at home. They continue to appeal for financial assistance to help cover the outstanding costs.