Kenyan Woman Dies in UK as Family Seeks Funds for Repatriation
Families in Murang’a and the United Kingdom are mourning the death of Hannah Wanjiku Kamau, who died on 9 March 2026 at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford after a short illness.
Wanjiku, who was from Kangema in Murang’a County, moved to the United Kingdom in 2022. She initially lived in Swindon, Wiltshire, before relocating to Scotland in search of employment opportunities.
Relatives described her as driven and closely connected to her cultural roots. Her cousin, Peter Njenga, said she represented many in the diaspora who pursue opportunities abroad while maintaining strong ties to home.
The family is also dealing with the earlier death of Wanjiku’s aunt, who died in London in October 2025. Her burial arrangements have not yet been completed. The family is now seeking support to repatriate Wanjiku’s body alongside her aunt’s ashes so that both can be buried in Kenya.
Family members, including Mary-Ann Njeri in Swindon, Dominic Mutua, and Phylis Wangui in London, have been identified as contacts for those wishing to assist. They have appealed to the Kenyan diaspora and well-wishers for financial contributions, noting that the cost of repatriation is often high and can reach millions of shillings.
Messages of condolence have been shared by Kenyans both locally and abroad. Some have highlighted the emotional and financial strain of losing relatives overseas. Others have expressed sympathy for the family following two deaths within a short period.
While living abroad offers opportunities, it can also create difficulties during bereavement, particularly when families wish to return loved ones to their country of origin. These processes often depend on collective support.
In a separate case, another Kenyan living in the United Kingdom, Ann Onyango, died after a long illness. Her family has appealed for assistance to honour her wish to be buried in the UK, where she had lived for more than 20 years.
