Body of a Kenyan Woman Who Died in Saudi Arabia Arrives Ahead of Burial

The remains of a 22-year-old Kenyan woman who died in Saudi Arabia in February have arrived in the country ahead of burial.

The body of Stella Nafula arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on Monday and was shuttled to Cherengany Nursing Home Hospital mortuary in Kitale, where a post-mortem will be conducted ahead of burial next week.

kjhn

Stella traveled to the Gulf state in August last year to work as a housemaid, but she developed health complications two months later and had been in and out of the hospital.

A medical report from Saketa Hospital in Saudi Arabia said Nafula died from cardiopulmonary arrest. Her family said Stella was mistreated by her first employer before she was sold off to another cruel employer, who even denied her access to medical attention.

"Days after arrival in Najran city where she had gone to work, my sister sent me a disturbing WhatsApp audio clip asking me to intervene and ask the Kenya government to help her come back home," her brother Joseph Wafula said.

Her situation worsened in October last year but her Saudi employer forced her to continue working. Before her death, she sent a recorded WhatsApp message to her brother, saying she was about to die.

“Bro mimi kweli sioni kesho nikifika, nimekufa aki. Haina shida, nimeshukuru kwa yale mumenitendea,” she said.

The family wants an autopsy done on her body to establish the cause of her death.

"We saw her body at the airport parking lot just to confirm that it was actually her. The body was in good shape as it had not decomposed, but we noticed a few things on her body suggesting physical harm," her brother said.

"There were scars on the left side of her chest, wrists, and around her neck, suggesting she might have been tied with a rope. That's why we need a post-mortem done."

The family was forced to reach out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for help to ship her remains to Kenya. Nafula will be laid to rest at her family’s home in Misemwa, Kiminini sub-county.

Comments

The deaths of our people in…

Mwororo (not verified) Wed, 04/13/2022 @ 04:34pm

Permalink

The deaths of our people in the Arab nations especially women, has reached a critical and very painful stage. And to realize that our sisters are dying out there struggling for basic needs for their families is even more troubling. Basic needs in life were not meant to cost human life. Yet these basics are out of reach for almost half of the people of Kenya because our leaders are shameless thieves. Raila, Kalonzo and Muda, just to name a few, receive millions of shilling in cash and perks every month as retired government officials- who do nothing- and yet are still chasing Wanjiku for more! We need a new day in Kenya. Mwakilishi, when you publish cases like this, you should include a contact means so those of us who can help are able to do so. Rip Sister.

Jambazi Ngina Muhuhu Kamau…

Morris Menye (not verified) Wed, 04/13/2022 @ 10:43pm

Permalink

Jambazi Ngina Muhuhu Kamau is paid shs 25000 daily pension per day by hungry billionaires as next of kin to expired muuaji Kamau Muigai.

It is quite sad but Kenyans…

Cindy (not verified) Fri, 04/15/2022 @ 12:17am

Permalink

It is quite sad but Kenyans cannot be helped. Yesterday in Thika At UDA nominations voters sold their votes as low as Ksh 100. Then after one year they’ll come crying how the politicians are doing nothing. How is a 100 or a 1000 shillings going to help you and for how many days? No Kenyan should go to Saudi to work as a Maid. During Kibaki era, Kenyans were not allowed to work as maids in the gulf as they couldn’t get a maid’s visa. Why did Uhuru sign the agreement?