Bungoma Family Seeks Government Help to Repatriate Mother of Three Who Died in Qatar

The family of Sarah Nangila Kaita is appealing for government intervention to repatriate her body from Qatar after she died on 19 July following a prolonged illness. 

Relatives say the process has stalled because her sponsor is reportedly unresponsive. Sarah, a mother of three from Bungoma County, travelled to Qatar in October 2025 to seek employment. Her family said she was healthy when she left Kenya but developed severe abdominal pain earlier this year.

She underwent surgery in Qatar, but her condition worsened and she was admitted to the intensive care unit at Al Wakra Hospital. Her relatives received updates indicating that she was recovering and expected to return to the general ward. However, they were informed on 19 July that she had died. 

Her niece, Sheilah Nyangweso, said the family has been unable to make progress with the repatriation because Sarah's sponsor is not responding.

"We need help to bring our sister from Qatar. She died a week ago, and the sponsor is not responding because he knows Sarah has no Qatar ID. Please, we need the government to intervene in this," she said. 

Sarah's nephew, Kevin Juma, said the family had been encouraged after being told she was improving. He recalled that she had first complained of a painful swelling in her stomach before she was taken to hospital.

"Last week I was told by your sponsor that you were feeling much better and were supposed to be taken back to the ward. But on 19 July, I was shocked to receive the call informing me that you had passed away. Go well, Aunt, my best friend," he said.

The family has appealed to the State Department for Diaspora Affairs and the Kenyan Embassy in Qatar to help return Sarah's body to Kenya for burial. The family believes the absence of a Qatar ID has complicated the repatriation process, leaving them dependent on government assistance.