This archive report was first published on 8 May 2020.
May 8, 2020, marked a bittersweet moment for Eunice Kalekye, a Kenyan who had been stranded in China. She had been praying for a chance to return home but lacked the Sh75,000 needed to book a chartered Kenya Airways flight.
With the help of friends, Kalekye managed to secure a loan and book her ticket. However, she was not alone in her struggles. Many Kenyans who returned on the flight had spent their savings on joblessness and lockdown, leaving them with nothing but broken dreams.
According to reports, only a few of the 183 Kenyans who registered for the flight had paid for it. The high cost of flights had become a significant concern for those seeking to return home.
One passenger, who wished to remain anonymous, shared her experience of taking her daughter to India for medical treatment. Despite fundraising efforts, the extended stay meant that she spent more than anticipated, and her family in Kenya struggled to fundraise for more due to church closures.
As the returnees prepare to enter quarantine facilities, they are hoping for a fresh start and praying for normalcy. However, the uncertainty surrounding their financial situations remains a pressing concern.
