When 26-year-old Sheila Jepkorir Chebii boarded a plane at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on April 4, 2026 for Australia, her family believed she was embarking on a life-changing academic journey.
What began as a journey filled with hope and promise has, however, ended in heartbreak for her family in Elgeyo Marakwet County after she died last weekend under unclear circumstances, slightly over a month after arriving in Sydney, Australia, for further studies.
Described by relatives as bright, disciplined and ambitious, Ms Jepkorir had travelled to Australia to pursue a master’s degree in accounting and auditing, a dream her family hoped would transform her future and uplift those back home.
But the excitement turned into unimaginable grief last Sunday, May 17, when the family in her rural home in Kobil village, Sambirir, Marakwet East Sub-county received news that their daughter had died suddenly while working at a five-star hotel in Sydney.
Sheila jepkorir Chebii, Kenyan who died few weeks after landing in Australia for further studies.
Photo credit: Pool
The circumstances surrounding her death remain unclear, leaving her parents, Mr Samuel Kiptanui Chebii and Ms Linah Tanui, devastated and desperate for answers.
“Losing a child with a promising future in a foreign country is too painful,” said Mr Chebii, a retired teacher, describing the sudden death as unbearable.
“My daughter left this country full of life, determination and dreams. She wanted to further her education and become a successful accountant. We never imagined the same journey we celebrated would end with us preparing for her burial,” he said in an interview with Daily Nation on Tuesday.
Born on October 20, 2000, Sheila was the fourth-born in a family of five children.
Friends and relatives describe her as hardworking, disciplined and academically gifted. She was determined to transform her life through education.
She graduated from Kabarak University in 2024 with a Bachelor’s degree in accounting before proceeding with her Certified Public Accountant, CPA(K), studies.
According to her family, Ms Jepkorir had long dreamed of becoming an international financial consultant and viewed Australia as a gateway to greater opportunities.
“I was in church on Sunday morning when my son, Mr Amos Chebii, who is an engineer in the UK, called me. The moment he said Sheila was no more, I felt the world around me collapse. I almost fainted because I could not believe what I was hearing,” he said emotionally.
The family says information they received indicates that Sheila died after allegedly falling while on duty at the hotel where she had secured part-time employment as she pursued her studies.
However, they insist many questions remain unanswered.
“What exactly happened to my daughter? How does a young girl die suddenly at her workplace without a clear explanation?” posed Mr Chebii.
He is now calling for thorough investigations by Australian authorities, saying the family cannot find closure without knowing the exact circumstances that led to Sheila’s death.
“If this was truly an accident, then we want transparency. We want to see CCTV footage from the hotel. We want investigators to explain her final moments. Such a facility must have proper safety systems and surveillance cameras,” he said.
“The most painful thing is not knowing the truth. Every parent wants answers when they lose a child, especially under mysterious circumstances in a foreign country,” he added.
He disclosed that the family had been informed that an autopsy on Sheila’s body could only be conducted after police completed preliminary investigations into the incident.
The grieving father also appealed to the Kenyan Embassy in Australia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intervene and support the family.
“We are appealing to the Kenyan government and our embassy in Australia not to abandon us. We need diplomatic support to ensure investigations are conducted fairly and transparently,” he said.
Back home in Sambirir, grief has engulfed Kobil village as relatives, neighbours and friends continue streaming to the family homestead to condole with the bereaved family.
On social media, emotional tributes from Kenyans both locally and abroad have continued pouring in, with many describing Sheila’s death as a painful reminder of the risks and struggles faced by young Africans seeking education and opportunities overseas.
“She was brilliant, disciplined and full of dreams. It is painful that a life with so much promise has ended this way,” read one tribute posted online by a former university colleague.
“It pains us to hear of such a sudden death in a foreign country,” said Joel Chesabul, a villager.
