Kenyan Mother Seeks Help to Raise $25,000 to Ferry Son's Body from US to Kenya for Burial

A Kenyan mother whose son recently died in the US has appealed for help from the government and well-wishers to airlift his remains to Kenya for burial.

Paulina Chebet’s first-born son, Geoffrey Chepkwony was on August 29th found dead in a bayou at 49 Jacinto Street in Houston, Texas by members of the public who reported to area police. Following the report, divers were sent to the scene to retrieve the body with initial examination showing there were no signs of trauma.

Police confirmed his identity after running fingerprints in the database, which enabled them to get his contacts and those of his former roommate, Sam Makaya to inform him of his death.

Chepkwony, who moved to the US in 2014 after winning a green card, was on medication after developing a mental condition, according to Makaya. 

The family from Ruandet village, Bomet County is seeking to raise Sh2.5 million ($25,000) to airlift the body of the 26-year-old home. Chebet, a single mother of two, is yet to know the results of the postmortem examination.

“I am crying for help from anyone so that we can bring the body of my son home… I have no one to look up to for support,” Chebet said on Saturday.

“I never got to know what he was ailing from …the last time we talked was March 16 when he called. Since then I have only been talking with his friend, inquiring how he was coping.”

Plans are underway for Makaya to obtain the power of attorney from the deceased’s mother so that he can get the body released to him. Chepkwony had no family in the US.

The Kenyan community in Houston is already fundraising with the purpose of repatriating the deceased’s body to Kenya.

Donations can be direct donations to:

Robert Cheruiyot: Zelle - 8326180324; CashApp - $roba1