Body of Kenyan Stuck in Topeka Funeral Home
By Ajabu Writer

Topeka, Kan.- Geoffrey Gikonyo, 49, of Topeka, Kan., died on April 14, 2009 at Midland Hospice House in Topeka. 

Since then his body has been lying at Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home in Topeka because his friends have not been able to raise enough funds to repatriate it to Kenya for burial.

Andrew Warutere, a friend from Topeka, said Gikonyo lived with his wife, Stella, but they were separated and no family member is actively involved in his funeral preparations. 

He said a group of friends have met three times since he died to raise funds to send his remains to Kenya and have only realized about $3,000 so far, which is not enough to ship the body home. According to Larry Barrette, a funeral director at Brennan-Mathena, the funeral home needs approximately $10,000 to send Gikonyo’s body to Kenya.

Gikonyo was born on September 14, 1959 in Nyeri, Kenya, to Joseph and Charity (Kaqure) Gikonyo. He is survived by his wife Stella of Topeka, a daughter and granddaughter in Kenya. 

Warutere said Gikonyo, who had been hospitalized intermittently for about a year was not employed at the time of his death. Gikonyo, he said, was previously employed at Frito Lay Foods in Topeka, but quit work about a year ago when he became sick. Gikonyo had no life insurance, he said.

The late Geoffrey Gikonyo who passed away recently in Kansas. pic by friends

Warutere said Gikonyo’s wish was to be buried in Kenya and appealed to well-wishers to donate money to grant him his desire.

“He [Gikonyo] wanted to be buried in Kenya, and our goal is to send the body home,” Warutere said.

There is no fundraiser planned for Gikonyo, but Warutere said he and a group of friends are tirelessly working the phones to try and raise funds to underwrite his funeral expenses. 

"We are just calling people and telling them that we still need money,” he said. “We are requesting people to contribute and come to the meetings.”
 
Warutere said the meetings are being held weekly at Vincent Otche’s residence at 4901 S W 30 St. Topeka Kan.

People interested in donating money can send checks to:
Andrew Warutere
7224 SW 24th St.
Topeka, KS 66614

For more information please contact:
Andrew Warutere at (785) 969-6190
Vincent's Otche at (785) 200-8783
Rusken Koofp at (785) 385-9555
Nicholas Karungu at (785) 230-6875
Pauline Mbuvi at (217) 359-1892
Catherine Vascianne at (978) 996-9097

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