The body of Delphina Wambui Ngigi, a Kenyan asylum seeker who died on February 18 in Canada, has finally been repatriated to Kenya. Delph...
The body of Delphina Wambui Ngigi, a Kenyan asylum seeker who died on February 18 in Canada, has finally been repatriated to Kenya.
Delphina Ngigi, aged 46, passed away just three days after arriving in Canada. She reportedly succumbed to the cold after allegedly being denied shelter.
The jobless mother of four who had lost her husband to cancer sought and was granted asylum in Canada.
Initially attempting to travel on February 9, Ngigi was denied at JKIA due to European route restrictions. After a second rejection, she successfully arrived in Canada on February 15.
Delphina Ngigi Dies at Shelter
Upon her arrival, Ngigi stayed at her friend’s house on the first night. The following day, her friend took her to a shelter in Mississauga, Ontario, as required for refugees in Canada. And the friend left, hoping Ngigi would settle in nicely.
However, the shelter was full, and Ngigi was asked to wait outside until admitted around 8 pm, having been outside since 1 pm that Saturday.
That night, she slept indoors, but the next afternoon, Ngigi experienced a ‘medical episode’ while showering. Shortly after paramedics arrived, she suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away at the hospital.
Delphina Ngigi’s death occurred roughly three months after a Nigerian man died outside the same shelter.
On March 2, mourners held a vigil at Dominion Church in North York to honor Ngigi’s memory. Kenyan Women in Canada also held a memorial service for her on March 16.
Well-wishers also raised the required Ksh5.3 million (USD 40,000) to transport her body back to Kenya.
The death of Delphina Ngigi has reignited appeals to the federal government for increased funding to aid in the settlement and support of asylum seekers, particularly those seeking refuge in Peel Region.
By Vivian K.
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