A family in Kiminini Constituency, Trans Zoia County has pleaded with the government to help bring back the body of their kin who died in Qatar.
Speaking to a local media house, the family members revealed that Denis Andrew Wasike died in December 2023 and his body has been held in Qatar for two months now.
The family revealed that Andrew made a call home that fateful day to know how they were faring on before passing on nine hours later.
Narrating the incident, Andrew’s wife Grace Nafula said he talked to her husband a few hours before they received news of his death.
We Want His Body-Family
During their phone conversation, Andrew who left the country for Qatar in search of employment told his wife that he had already taken supper, adding that he was off work the next day.
“Ilikuwa ni saa nne na dakika tatu,akaniambia kesho niko off nishatoka kununua nyama ya mbuzi, nishapika na nimekula. Kidogo kidogo napingiwa simu naambiwa Andrew amekufa na ashapelekwa mortuary,” said Grace.
This translates to “Around 10: 03p.m, he told me that he was off work tomorrow and that he had already bought meat, prepared it and took supper.”
However, the family said they haven’t received any assistance from relevant authorities despite seeking help from various government agencies.
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“They have just been promising to bring back the body, we told them that we have accepted that Andrew is dead, and they should bring back his remains for burial because there is nothing else, we can do about it,” said Grace.
Andrew’s mother Jesicah Edward said his son’s death came as a shock because he never complained of any sickness or complications.
“Kijana hajakuwa mgonjwa, amekuwa mzima. Hajaniambia hata kulalamika, yeye ananiambia tu mama niko mzima na nashukuru Mungu nachapa kazi,” said Jesicah.
This can be translated to ” My son has not been sick, he has been so healthy. He has never complained, he always said he is fit.”
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Kenyan Embassy -Qatar Employer Disagreement
Despite their efforts to bring the body back for burial, differences between the Kenyan embassy and Andrew’s employer over his last pay has halted the process.
Grace Nanjama’s neighbor said they were expecting the body before January as promised but this hasn’t happened yet.
“The mother went to Nairobi and signed all the necessary documents; we were told to wait for the body before January. We are now in February, and we haven’t received the body yet, they told us there is a woman who has refused to sign,” said Nanjama.
The family further explained that they were being taken in circles on the date when Andrew’s body would arrive in Kenya.
“I’m just being taken in circles, will my son rot or be buried in Qatar? I just want to know; they should help me,” Andrew’s mother noted.
The family and friends of the are now calling on President William Ruto and Trans Nzoia County governor George Natembeya to intervene and help bring back the body of their kin for a proper send off.
