Homeless Kenyan Man in the UK Found Dead in Reading

Kepha Otundo, a Kenyan national who had been living homeless in Reading, was found dead on 7 January 2026.

Otundo had been staying in a makeshift encampment along Abattoirs Road, which had become home to a number of migrants and British citizens. In July 2025, a High Court Writ of Possession authorised Reading Borough Council to evict those living there. 

The camp, consisting mainly of Kenyans, Tanzanians, and other individuals, was emblematic of the challenges faced by migrants living in precarious circumstances, particularly those affected by the UK’s “No Recourse to Public Funds” (NRPF) policy. Concerns about the living conditions at the camp had been raised in the summer of 2025 by the grassroots organisation BAME HUB-UK, in collaboration with Kenya’s Deputy High Commissioner to the UK, Dr Joseph Warui, as well as local NHS staff and community leaders. 

During their visit, they called for a coordinated response, urging the local authorities to halt the evictions and provide more support for migrants, including access to legal aid, mental health services, and housing assistance. Although the exact cause of Otundo’s death has not yet been confirmed, family members have suggested that the cold winter weather may have contributed. 

Otundo’s cousin, Mosoku Geoffrey, paid tribute to him, offering condolences to his family and expressing hope in the face of their grief. Otundo’s death highlights the wider issues of homelessness, immigration policy, and public health in the UK. 

The NRPF policy, which denies many migrants access to essential services, has been widely criticised for exacerbating vulnerability and leaving individuals like Otundo without a safety net.