Kenyan Student June Chebet Dies in Australia Just Days Before Graduation

A Kenyan university student in Australia, June Chebet Kili, died on Sunday, 1 June 2026, while receiving treatment at Calvary Mater Hospital in New South Wales.

June, who was from Eldoret, had been studying at the University of Newcastle since 2024. She was due to graduate on 26 June, a milestone she did not live to see. Her family described her as a dedicated student who was committed to her education and future, with plans to return to Kenya after completing her studies.

Community leaders in Newcastle announced her death in a statement expressing profound sorrow. They said the loss had deeply affected her family, friends and members of the Kenyan community in Australia. Daily evening prayer meetings are being held at 1/58 Devon Street, Wallsend, NSW, where relatives, friends and supporters have gathered to mourn and support the family.

The loss comes after another family tragedy. June’s brother, Rodney Kili, died in a farm accident in Kenya two years ago. Family members and friends said the two deaths in such a short period had left relatives struggling to come to terms with their grief.

Members of the Kenyan diaspora in Australia have offered condolences and organised memorial gatherings in her honour. In a message shared by community leaders in Newcastle, mourners extended their sympathies to her family and loved ones and paid tribute to her memory.

Memorial arrangements are expected to be announced in the coming days as the family and community continue to mourn her passing.