Kenyan Family Loses Son in Finland After Daughter's Australia Tragedy

The family of Sheila Jeptum, a Kenyan woman killed in a road accident in Australia last year, is now facing a second devastating loss with the sudden death of her brother, Eugine Kipkoech, in Finland.

Kipkoech's body was recently discovered in a lake, and the circumstances surrounding his death are currently under investigation by Finnish authorities. The tragedy comes less than a year after Sheila Jeptum, 21, died in a head-on collision in Brisbane, Australia. According to police reports, the Hyundai Elantra she was driving crossed into oncoming traffic, resulting in her death and that of the other driver.

Jeptum, a resident of New South Wales, was mourned by the Kenyan community in Australia, which held a candlelight vigil in her memory. The news of Kipkoech's death was shared by Eunice Keter, who expressed deep condolences to the family, particularly Jeptum and Kipkoech's mother. Keter emphasizes the profound grief of losing two children within such a short period.

"Just wondering what the mother is going through. Going to the airport twice in a row to receive your dead children🥹 What is life?" Keter wrote in an emotional social media post.

The family's plight has resonated widely, with Kenyans both domestically and abroad offering an outpouring of support and sympathy through social media. Condolences and prayers for strength and comfort have been widely shared, reflecting a sense of shared sorrow within the community.

"So heartbreaking. Dear God, please heal and give the family strength to overcome this loss," one mourner shared.