Following her death, the family says they have encountered fresh challenges in trying to bring her body home.
A family in Bungoma County is mourning the loss of their daughter, sister and mother, Sarah Nangila Kaita, who died in Qatar on July 19 after spending several weeks in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) battling a prolonged illness.
The bereaved family is now appealing to the Kenyan government to help facilitate the return of her body to Kenya for burial, saying they are unable to navigate the repatriation process on their own.
Sarah, a mother of three, travelled to Qatar in October 2025 in search of employment, hoping to improve the lives of her children and support her family back home. According to her relatives, she was in good health when she left Kenya and looked forward to building a better future.
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Her health problems reportedly began months later. Her nephew, Kevin Juma, said Sarah contacted him around June 10 to inform him that she had developed a painful swelling in her stomach. He advised her to seek medical attention immediately.
Although she visited a hospital, her condition continued to deteriorate. On June 22, she was admitted to Al Wakra Hospital for specialised treatment. Two days later, doctors transferred her to the Intensive Care Unit after her health worsened.
Sarah remained in the ICU for nearly four weeks as her family in Kenya anxiously awaited updates on her condition. According to Kevin, the family’s hopes were lifted after her sponsor reportedly informed him that she was recovering well and was expected to be moved from the ICU to a general ward.
However, on July 19, the family received the devastating news that Sarah had died.
Following her death, the family says they have encountered fresh challenges in trying to bring her body home. They claim Sarah’s sponsor has since stopped answering their calls and messages, making it difficult to begin the repatriation process.
The family also says Sarah did not have a Qatari identification document, which they believe has complicated the legal procedures required to return her remains to Kenya.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Sarah’s niece, Sheilah Nyangweso, appealed to the government to intervene.
“Please help us bring our sister home for burial. We are pleading with the government to intervene because we cannot do this alone,” she said.
The family has appealed to the State Department for Diaspora Affairs and the Kenyan Embassy in Qatar to help trace Sarah’s sponsor, process the required documentation and facilitate the repatriation of her body.
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They have also called on well-wishers to support them during the difficult period, saying the emotional and financial burden has become overwhelming.
Sarah’s death has once again drawn attention to the challenges some Kenyans working abroad face, particularly when families are forced to navigate complex legal and diplomatic procedures after losing loved ones overseas.
