A Kenyan family is in a desperate race against time to raise the remaining KSh 360,000 needed to repatriate the body of their daughter, Ashley Atieno Odhiambo, who died in Indonesia earlier this year.
Ashley, 26, passed away on August 3, 2026, after falling ill for a brief period while working in the Southeast Asian country.
A death certificate issued by Indonesian authorities records her cause of death as natural and notes that an external examination was conducted.
How much has Ashley’s family raised?
Her sister has been at the forefront of the push to bring Ashley home for burial in Asembo, Rarieda, Siaya County.
She says the family has been quoted KSh 860,000 to cover the full cost of repatriation and, despite their efforts, has only managed to gather KSh 500,000 so far.
In an audio clip that has since leaked online, Atieno’s sister distress is palpable as she describes feeling abandoned at every turn.
Ashley’s family promised assistance
“Please, if you can help us. As a family we cannot be able to do anything. We have been defeated. We have sought help from everyone.
The government had promised to help us but they have blocked us. I just want my sister to return to Kenya please so we can bury her. We have reached out to several celebrities but none has come through for us,” she said.
According to Asley’s sister, the family initially received assurances from various government offices that help was forthcoming, but those promises came to nothing.
How much does Ashley’s family need? She says they have approached multiple institutions and individuals, including public figures, without receiving any meaningful support.
Documents shared by the family show the extent of their efforts to navigate the bureaucratic and financial hurdles involved in bringing Ashley’s remains back to Kenya.
The family is now appealing directly to Kenyans for contributions to close the KSh 360,000 gap, so that Ashley can finally be laid to rest at home in Siaya county.
