TEARS FLOW AT JKIA AS THE CASKET CARRYING THE BODY OF JOAN JEPNGETICH ARRIVES.

The body of Joan Jepngetich, a Kenyan nursing student at Carl Sandburg College in Illinois, arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Friday night, January 24, 2025.

The family members gathered at JKIA's cargo terminal broke down in tears as they received the casket containing their daughter's remains. Jepngetich died in a road accident in the United States on December 26, 2024.

The 23-year-old student from Chebarbar village in Kapsabet, Nandi County, had moved to the US to pursue her nursing degree while developing her athletic career at the Illinois-based community college.

A representative from the family told reporters at JKIA that funeral arrangements are underway. The burial will take place at her ancestral home in Chebarbar, Nandi County.

The late Jepngetich was a promising athlete who had secured a scholarship to study nursing at Carl Sandburg College in Galesburg. Her death has left both the academic institution and her local community in shock.

Fellow students at Carl Sandburg College described her as a dedicated learner who balanced her athletic pursuits with academic excellence. Her track coach noted that she had shown remarkable progress in both areas.

The process of repatriating her body took nearly a month, during which her family worked with both Kenyan and US authorities to complete the necessary documentation.

Local community members in Nandi County have been supporting the family through this difficult period. Several fundraising initiatives helped cover the costs of bringing her body back to Kenya.

The family spokesperson expressed gratitude to both governments and well-wishers who assisted in the repatriation process. A convoy of vehicles left JKIA early Saturday morning, transporting her body to her final resting place in Nandi County.

The tragic incident adds to recent cases of young Kenyans who have lost their lives while pursuing educational opportunities abroad. Last year, another Kenyan student, Mercy Nyanchama from Kisii County, also died in the United States.