The city of Toronto, Canada, has expressed concern following the death of a 32-year-old Kenyan man who died at the Willowdale Welcome Centre, a city-run shelter, on April 30.
In a statement, the city acknowledged the growing mental health crisis among people experiencing homelessness, especially refugee claimants.
Further, it called for greater investments in health and mental health services for African refugees.
“We are saddened to learn of the death of a person experiencing homelessness at the shelter located at 5800 Yonge St,
“Our thoughts are with the individual’s family, friends, Black community members, and staff who are mourning this loss,” said city spokesperson Eric Holmes.
Also Read: Kenyan Dies in India After Falling from Building
How the Kenyan national ended up at the shelter
The Kenyan who hails from Elgeyo Marakwet County, arrived in Canada in September 2023.
He moved from Kenya, hoping to build a better life for his family. However, he faced many challenges, including not being able to secure a house or a job. Eventually, these issues took a toll on his mental health.
According to Rev. Eddie Jjumba, the co-chair of the African Canadian Collective, one of the ways the deceased coped was to abuse alcohol leading him down a deadly path of addiction.
Jjumba said that at least three African refugees have died at the Willowdale shelter in the past year due to mental health-related causes.
“More could be done to support these people, but it needs to be culturally appropriate, and we need to look at root causes,” he said.
Moreover, the African Canadian Collective and members of the Kenyan diaspora say his death is part of a disturbing pattern that has been neglected.
The Willowdale Welcome Centre, which opened in 2019, provides shelter specifically for refugees, with 155 beds for women and 80 for men.
At the same time, Rev. Sue Karanja, founder of Royal Chapel Worldwide Ministries in North York and a prominent figure in Toronto’s Kenyan community, said that she is overwhelmed by the ongoing crisis.
“The Kenyan community has been facing lots of challenges. It’s a crisis. When they get here, their dreams get shattered, so mental health creeps in. The supports are so limited, and the system is so rigid,” she said.
Also Read: Family Reveals Last Moments of Kenyan Who Died After Building Fire in UAE
Kenyan Dies in India
In a separate incident, 29-year-old Kenyan Gekonge Daniel died in India on May 13, after suffering severe head injuries sustained during a tragic fall in Salem.
Daniel had been undergoing treatment at the Salem Government Hospital since April 27 and succumbed to his injuries on Monday, May 13.
He had enrolled to a private college in Salem but reportedly dropped out and was living in a rented house in the Kannankurichi area which he shared with a 33-year-old Ugandan woman, S. Nabukeera Hellen.
According to preliminary police reports, the incident occurred while Daniel was intoxicated and speaking on the phone, seated on the edge of a side wall. He lost his balance and fell, sustaining severe head injuries.
Follow our WhatsApp Channel and X Account for real-time news updates.
