What was meant to be a journey of hope has turned into every parent’s worst nightmare for a grieving mother from Vihiga County, who is now making a desperate appeal to Kenyans to help her bring her daughter’s body home from Saudi Arabia.
Elizabeth Kavere says she has been given just two weeks to raise KSh 400,000, an amount she says is required to repatriate the body of her daughter, Karen Keya, who reportedly died while working in Saudi Arabia as a migrant worker.
Standing outside her family’s modest mud-and-thatch home, Elizabeth broke down in tears as she addressed neighbours and well-wishers in an emotional video that has since touched many Kenyans online. Her voice trembled with pain as she pleaded for help, saying she has exhausted every option and cannot raise the enormous amount on her own.
According to Elizabeth, Karen had travelled to Saudi Arabia with one dream—to give her family a better life. She worked tirelessly, sending money back home to educate her children and provide for her unemployed mother, who depended entirely on her support.
The grieving mother recalled how her daughter often spoke of returning home one day after transforming their lives. One of Karen’s biggest dreams, she said, was to build her mother a decent house and lift the family out of poverty.
“My name is Elizabeth Kavere, from Vihiga. My daughter is Karen Keya, and she went to Saudi Arabia to work and fend for our family, but she died there,” Elizabeth said through tears.
She added that she had been informed she needed to raise KSh 400,000 within two weeks to facilitate the return of Karen’s remains.
“Saudi Arabia has given me two weeks to raise the money and bring her body home. I have nothing, and I am unemployed. She had been my only source of income,” she lamented.
With no stable income and few resources, Elizabeth says she feels overwhelmed by the burden of trying to honour her daughter’s final journey home. She fears that if she fails to raise the money within the stipulated period, she may not be able to give Karen the dignified burial she deserves.
In her heartfelt appeal, the devastated mother called on well-wishers, leaders, and the Kenyan government to come to her aid.
“Please help me bring my daughter home so my heart can finally be at peace. I cannot raise this money on my own,” she pleaded.
Her emotional story has resonated with many Kenyans, reigniting conversations about the challenges faced by migrant workers and the financial burden families often encounter when tragedy strikes abroad. As the clock ticks down, Elizabeth remains hopeful that compassionate Kenyans will answer her call and help fulfil her daughter’s final journey back to the home she worked so hard to support.
