Family, friends and fellow students gathered in Kisii County to pay their last respects to 20-year-old Alice Riang’a, a second-year student at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, during an emotional burial ceremony filled with grief and tributes.
Alice was laid to rest at her family home in a ceremony attended by relatives, university colleagues and members of the local community. Emotional scenes unfolded as mourners stood beside her casket before the final burial rites were conducted.
Photos shared online captured moments of sorrow, with friends and family struggling to hold back tears as they bid farewell to the young student many described as kind, focused and full of dreams.
Painful Farewell
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Mourners remembered Alice as a determined young woman who was committed to her studies and hopeful about the future.
“She was young, hardworking and had a bright future ahead of her,” one mourner said during the burial.
Her death has sparked sadness among students and young people online, where messages of condolence continued to pour in throughout the day.
Images from the burial ceremony circulated widely on social media, with many users sharing the words “Rest in Power” alongside photos of the late student.
Friends and Students Pay Tribute
Fellow students described Alice as friendly and outgoing, saying she created strong bonds with those around her during her time at university.
"We will always remember her smile and the good moments we shared,” another tribute read online.
One of the photos that attracted attention online showed her posing confidently near an airstrip while dressed in a black outfit and holding a yellow hat.
Friends said the images reflected her vibrant personality and youthful spirit.
Focus on Student Wellbeing
Alice’s death has also renewed conversations around the welfare and emotional wellbeing of university students in Kenya.
Many institutions of higher learning have in recent years expanded counselling and wellness programmes to support students facing academic, social and personal pressures.
Mental health experts continue to encourage young people to seek support whenever they experience emotional difficulties, while families and schools are being urged to strengthen support systems for students.
According to Kenya’s Ministry of Health, mental health challenges among young people remain a growing concern, especially within colleges and universities.
As friends, classmates and family members continue mourning Alice Riang’a, many say they will remember her as a young woman whose life ended too soon, leaving behind painful memories and unanswered questions.
