20-Year-Old Kenyan Athlete Dies in Japan, Body Detained Over a Sh1.3 Million Bill

The family and colleagues of a 20-year-old Kenyan middle-distance runner who died in Japan earlier this month are appealing for help to repatriate her body for burial.

Cynthia Wanjiku Mbaire from Njoro, Nakuru County passed away while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Japan on April 14th, and her body is being detained at a morgue in Tenrei Kaikan over an outstanding medical bill, according to reports.

Victor Wachira, a Nyahururu-based athletics coach, said they are required to pay JPY165,000 (about Sh1.3 million) to have the body of Wanjiku, who specialized in 1,500m and 3,000m races in Japan, released. He said they have been given two weeks to pick it up or else it will be disposed of by the Japanese government.

“We have lost one of our athletes who died in Japan. We have had logistical issues because the overall bill is Sh1.3 million. We have raised some amount through various athletes and coaches but the amount is too low,” Wachira said at Nyahururu Stadium on Tuesday.

“She had been admitted to the hospital for over a week before she succumbed. We are calling on the government to help us raise the amount and bring her body back before the two weeks’ deadline set by the government of Japan elapses failure to which they shall be forced to bury her there,” he added.

Athletes pleaded with the government through the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs to intervene and facilitate the repatriation of Wanjiku’s body.

Wanjiku, who was a member of the Hitachi Women’s Corporate team under coach Satoru Kitamura, was best known for her 8:49.72 record in the 2019 South Kyushu High School Championships at age 16.

That year, the deceased won both the 1500m and 3000m at the National High School Championships. She also bagged the 1500m title at the 2021 East Japan Corporate Championships, her first season with Hitachi.

Her best performance following that was a 9:01.66 for 3000 m in April 2022.