A family from Kademba Village in Siaya County is seeking assistance from the government to help bring home the remains of their kin, who passed away in Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, on Friday, October 29, 2025.

The family received the harrowing news that their kin, John Okoth Ogutu, was shot dead by Tanzanian security forces who were responding to the post-election violence.

Ogutu is said to have gone to Tanzania in 2018 and landed a job as a teacher, and he was caught up in chaos at the time he went to buy foodstuffs at the centre.

Okoth was last seen in Kenya in May when he returned home to bury his father.

According to Vocal Africa CEO and human rights activist Hussein Khalid, who shared the news on Sunday, November 2, 2025, via his official X account, the deceased, who was shot dead in Tanzania, was John Okoth Ogutu, a teacher at Sky Schools in Tanzania.

Khalid said Okoth was shot in Ubungo, Dar es Salaam, and that his body is currently lying at the Mwananyamala morgue.

Mother robbed of peace

According to his mother, Anjeline Ogutu, the untimely death of his only surviving and eldest son robbed her of peace since October 29, 2025.

“Okoth is my eighth-born child and the eighth one that I am going to bury,” Ogutu stated.

“As we speak, I am stranded. I would like to have my child repatriated to Kenya and be interred close to his father, whom we buried in May this year, but I am financially drained,” Ogutu said.

Complex process involved

In the letter sent to her family, the immigration authorities detailed the complex process involved in the repatriation process, which requires several formalities and expenses to ensure the remains are returned to Kenya.

The family, based in Kademba Village in South East Alego, is now appealing to the government to intervene in the repatriation process, particularly in the costs to bring the body back home.

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“With all the procedures and associated costs, we as the family can’t afford that’s why we are appealing to the national and county government to come to our aid and assist us in bringing back Okoth’s body home,” Ogutu explained.

Okoth Ogutu left Kenya in 2018 seeking better opportunities abroad and was expected to jet back into the country in December to take care of his ailing mother, who was now lonely following the burial of his husband recently.

“Okoth had planned to return home this December. In the last conversation we had, he was going to dispose of his property and return home. Okoth was the only person I would get to when faced with a financial crisis,” Ogutu explained.

I sensed something was wrong when my neighbours, who had learnt of his death, came home and each held prayers while asking God to strengthen me during this trying moment. It was on Friday at around 4:00 pm.”

Mercy Okinyo Ogutu, the deceased sister, described Okoth as the breadwinner of the household, with her death leaving the family in a wave of uncertainty.

“Okoth has been a breadwinner in our family, especially attending to our mother’s medication, now that the husband’s other 7 children are no more.

“We have buried Odhiambo, Ochieng, Achieng, Night and three other children, with Okoth being the 9th person to be buried in our family.”

“As it is right now, things are very difficult for us as a family; that’s why we need a shoulder to lean on,” Okinyo said.