Kenyan Oxford Graduate Appeal for Help to Repatriate Uncle from UK

The Kenyan community in the United Kingdom is being called upon to assist in the repatriation of Edwin Kalerwa's remains.

Rispah Odanga, a 26-year-old Kenyan woman who recently completed her master's in Law at Oxford University, has made an earnest appeal for help. Her uncle, Edwin Kalerwa, passed away on September 10, 2024, at Great Western Hospital in Swindon after a prolonged battle with lymphoma cancer. Rispah emphasizes the urgent need for £4,500 (approximately KSh 772,680) to transport her uncle's body back to Kenya. Edwin Kalerwa, who was 56 years old at the time of his passing, had moved to the UK in the early 2000s and had been living alone in Swindon.

Rispah, who moved to the UK in 2023 for her studies, is his only close relative in the country. She expresses her strong desire to fulfill her uncle's final wish of being buried in Kenya, specifically in Mumias, Kakamega County. The situation is particularly challenging for Rispah, who graduated just a month ago and has yet to secure stable employment. While she has managed to gather some contributions from friends through a WhatsApp group, the amount raised is insufficient to cover the repatriation costs.

"I won't be able to raise the money by myself," Rispah states, appealing to the Kenyan community in the UK for assistance.

Adding to the family's grief, Rispah reveals that her cousin, Winnie Bwire Ndubi, a renowned Kenyan actress known for her role as "Dida" in local television, recently passed away from cancer in Turkey. Winnie is scheduled to be buried on September 21. Following this, Rispah's family in Kenya plans to initiate another fundraising effort to contribute to Edwin Kalerwa's repatriation. The process of repatriating a body from the UK to Kenya involves several steps and extensive documentation. The Kenya High Commission in London requires proof of the deceased's Kenyan citizenship, a death certificate issued by UK authorities, a letter from funeral directors confirming proper embalming, and a non-infectious certificate.

These documents are necessary to obtain a No Objection Letter, which is crucial for the transportation of the remains. Repatriation costs can be substantial, encompassing expenses such as embalming, a hermetically sealed casket, transportation, and various logistical arrangements. This financial burden often falls on family members who may already be grappling with the emotional and financial strain of losing a loved one. The Kenyan community in the UK has a history of coming together in times of need, and Rispah remains hopeful that they will support her during this difficult period.

Those wishing to contribute to the repatriation efforts can join the WhatsApp group or send donations directly to Rispah's bank account at HSBC Bank.

Name : Rispah Khamala Odanga
Sort Code: 40-11-91
Account Number: 58238618