Well-wishers from across the world raised Ksh983,000 through a GoFundMe campaign page to cater to the family of a Kenyan native who was killed in a tragic accident in the driveway of his home in Kansas, USA.
According to Jacob Birech's family, the funds would go towards paying for the body to be repatriated to Kenya, which was his last wish.
Faith Langat, a close family friend, noted that their traditional customs dictated that their bodies be buried beside their ancestors.
“Culturally, we have respect for last wishes. We would like to rest next to our ancestors, our ancestral home, even being immigrants. It’s very important to have that last respect, so we’re honouring it," Langat stated.
Berich's cousin, Christopher Sang, recalled the kin's final moments, indicating that he was under the van doing repair work before accidentally knocking the jack which caused the van to collapse and pin him underneath the vehicle.
"I rushed here hoping it would just be a simple accident and we would be able to get him to the emergency room but I was approached by the police officers over there, and I was just told that he’s gone," he pointed out.
Sang noted that Berich, a car enthusiast, was pursuing his Ph.D. in policy and administration.
The 54-year-old left behind his wife, Penina and three children: Joshua (kindergarten), Philip ( Grade 10) and Natalie (Grade 12).
"Jacob Birech was a kind and loving husband and father, with a very gentle spirit. He was a peacemaker and a leader. He worked very hard while also furthering his education and was finishing his final thesis toward a Ph.D. in Public Policy and Administration. He was loved by many and will be dearly missed," the statement read in part.
GoFundMe is a crowdfunding platform that allows people to raise money for different events.
On March 21, 2023, well-wishers raised millions for a Kenyan couple who was found dead in their mansion in Nyamira County.
Reports indicated that the Kenyan couple resided in Minnesota, USA before visiting their native home in Nyamira. The family sought to raise Ksh6.6 million for burial expenses and seek justice for the couple.
