Society Editor
By Tolu Adesuwa Igiehon
The quiet village of Murguiywa in Trans Nzoia County has been thrown into mourning after the sudden death of Agnes Shibeka, a 32-year-old woman who died just one week after returning from Saudi Arabia, where she had worked for four years.
For her family, Agnes’s return was supposed to mark the beginning of a new chapter — a joyful reunion after years of distance, struggle, and sacrifice. Her parents had decorated their compound and were preparing a small thanksgiving gathering to welcome her back. But instead of celebration songs, the sound of wailing now fills the air.
According to relatives, Agnes arrived home healthy and cheerful, but just a few days later, she complained of feeling unwell. Despite receiving treatment, her condition worsened, and she passed away on Sunday morning.
Her brother, Erick Busolo, said the tragedy had left the family numb with shock.
“She endured so much while abroad and was so happy to finally come home. She kept talking about her plans to start a business and take care of our parents. None of us expected this.”
Friends and neighbors remember Agnes as kind-hearted and hardworking — a woman who constantly sent money home to support her family, even when she had little left for herself.
Her death has also devastated members of Team Gulf Club, a network of Kenyans working in the Middle East, who took to social media to mourn their colleague.
“Rest in peace, our sister Agnes,” one post read. “You fought hard and finally made it home. We will miss your laughter and strength.”
Local leaders in Motosiet Ward have expressed sympathy to the bereaved family, urging the government to strengthen support systems for migrant workers and ensure proper reintegration when they return home.
A close family friend revealed that Agnes had been looking forward to celebrating her upcoming birthday and had even promised to share stories of her experience in Saudi Arabia with the community’s youth.
“She was full of dreams,” said the friend. “She wanted to build a small salon here and live close to her family. No one thought her journey back home would end like this.”
Her burial is scheduled to take place this weekend in Ibafo village, where relatives and friends are expected to gather to pay their final respects.
Now, instead of dancing to welcome their daughter home, Agnes’s parents are preparing her final resting place — a heartbreaking twist to what was meant to be the happiest moment of their lives.
“She left to give us a better life,” her mother whispered through tears. “She came back to us, but not the way we prayed for.”
