This archive report was first published on 11 May 2020.
On May 11, 2020, Kenya Airways Flight 205 landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, bringing with it a mix of emotions for Mr. Geoffrey Imathiu. His wife, Agnes Imathiu, had passed away in India due to a stroke, and he had been determined to bring her body back home for a decent burial.
Mr. Imathiu's journey began in March when he and his wife traveled to India for cancer treatment. Despite initial success, she suffered a stroke and eventually died on March 29. With India in lockdown, Mr. Imathiu was unable to return home and had to find a private mortuary to store his wife's body.
He spent months in India, facing numerous challenges, including stress and stomach acidity issues. Despite these hardships, Mr. Imathiu remained determined to bring his wife back home. He was grateful when the government paid for their travel from Bangalore to Mumbai, but he had to pay Sh177,894 for his wife's body and Sh43,000 for his air ticket.
When Mr. Imathiu finally arrived in Kenya, he was able to get a permit at the airport to travel to Meru County, where he found a mortuary to keep his wife's body. He plans to give her a decent send-off, a testament to his love and dedication to her memory.
