Kenyan Academic Receives Support After UK Denied Her Daughter's Visa

Dr Doseline Kiguru, a lecturer from Kenya, has received an overwhelming amount of support from well-wishers who have raised Sh1.98 million.

When Kiguru's six-year-old daughter was denied a visa by the UK government, it dealt her a challenging blow, prompting her relatives and allies to launch a fundraiser on the GoFundMe platform to help her reunite with her husband and daughter. Originally, they aimed to collect Sh1.4 million, but the overwhelming support surpassed their expectations, accumulating a staggering Sh1.98 million within a mere 48 hours.

When The Guardian featured Kiguru's story, it captured worldwide interest. Her words conveyed her disappointment and frustration with the UK government's decision to reject her daughter's visa, hindering their much-anticipated reunion. In line with her new appointment as a permanent staff member of the University of Bristol, Kiguru was obligated to move to the UK for good. Her previous work as a researcher had mainly been linked with Kenya up until this significant occasion.

As reported by "The Guardian," Kiguru faced a huge turning point in 2022. She received a teaching job offer in the UK which required her to re-establish her life, however, she did not anticipate any complications regarding her family's immigration issues. Amidst all these complexities Kiguru enrolled her daughter into a school in Bristol and even got all new uniforms and educational accessories for the upcoming summer term. Unfortunately, her hopes were dashed when the UK's Home Office rejected her daughter's visa application, citing a lack of compassionate grounds.

As per UK immigration regulations, a child cannot automatically obtain a visa to accompany a parent unless both parents are relocating. This policy posed a challenge for Kiguru as she embarked on the daunting task of relocating her family including her husband to the UK. Kiguru clarifies that the crucial hurdle she had to surmount was the exorbitant expense of reapplying for visas for her daughter and spouse, totalling to a shocking Sh1.4 million.