‎‎A grieving family in Kiamuriuki, Chuka, is appealing for Sh1 million to bring home the body of their daughter who died in Qatar, nearly two weeks after the family received the devastating news of her death.

Virginia Gacheri, who had travelled to Qatar in 2022 in search of employment, had become an important source of support for her parents and children until her life reportedly took a difficult turn after she fled a household where she worked.

Her family alleges that Virginia escaped the home about a year ago after suffering mistreatment, including torture and threats to her life.

According to her parents, she subsequently moved to a facility where she stayed with other women while looking for another job.

However, her expired employment contract made it difficult for her to secure new work and obtain the documents required to regularize her stay.

On September 4, the family received a phone call that changed their lives.

They were informed that Virginia had collapsed and died shortly after leaving a washroom at the facility where she and other women were staying.

The family is now faced with another painful challenge, bringing her remains home.

Relatives estimate that they need about Sh1 million to cover the cost of repatriating her body and conducting her burial.

Her parents and siblings allege that Virginia endured harsh conditions during her employment in Qatar, including an incident in which her hands were allegedly exposed to acid, leaving her with severe burns.

The family further alleges that she was sometimes denied adequate food.

Her mother, Lydia Wanjiku, said Virginia once told her during a phone conversation that she survived on leftovers from the plates of members of the household where she worked because she was allegedly not allowed to eat the food in the house.

“She told me she sometimes had to depend on leftovers,” said Ms Wanjiku, describing the difficult experiences her daughter had shared with her.

Virginia’s death has left behind grieving children, including a son who was studying at Meru National Polytechnic and a daughter in Grade Four.

For the family, the immediate priority is to bring Virginia home and give her a dignified farewell.

“We are appealing to leaders, friends, well-wishers and anyone who can help us. We want to bring our daughter home and bury her with dignity,” said Ms Wanjiku.

The family says it has been experiencing sleepless nights since her death as it struggles to raise the money needed for the repatriation.

Those wishing to support the family can contact Virginia’s mother, Lydia Wanjiku, on 0713964108.

‎‎by Dickson Mwiti