Yvonne Atieno, a resident of Kibera, flew back to Kenya in August 2026 after learning her mother had been diagnosed with stage‑4 intestinal cancer.

She had moved to Saudi Arabia in October 2024 to support her parents and younger siblings financially, paying rent, school fees and even building a house for them before the illness emerged.

When her mother fell seriously ill, Atieno arranged for her transfer from a Siaya hospital to Kenyatta National Hospital in Nairobi, where she has been receiving treatment.

Unable to concentrate at work, she negotiated an early release from a contract that was due to end in October; her employer used her August salary to fund her return ticket, and she arrived home on 10 August.

Since returning, Atieno has been shuttling between Kibera and the hospital, sharing daily expenses with her father, whose casual‑labour earnings cover only basic food and rent, leaving most treatment costs uncovered.

In a Facebook video posted on 2 November, she appealed to the Kenyan Gulf diaspora and named public figures—including comedian Eric Omondi, MP Esther Passaris, former Nairobi governor Mike Sonko and activist Sarah Blessed—for financial assistance.

The family has received limited support from the Social Health Authority and social workers, but they say the financial burden remains heavy.

Contributions are being solicited via an M‑Pesa number registered under Atieno’s name, 0716525316.