Kin of Norah Borus who died in US yet to know cause of death

The family of Norah Jelagat Borus, a Stanford University student who died last week, is yet to see her body even as mystery still surrounds her death, the Nation has learnt.

The body of Ms Borus, one of the top students in the 2012 Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination, was found on June 14 at her residence within the university.

The last born in her family, Ms Borus was a masters student studying computer science.

Family spokesman Joseph Maswan on Tuesday told the Nation that family members led by her father, Dr Peter Borus, are were yet to view the body.

“Norah’s father, Dr Borus, had travelled on Saturday to establish what exactly happened. However, they are still in the dark. They have also not known the cause of her death,” said Mr Maswan.

Another family source who accompanied Dr Borus to the US told the Nation that police in the US told them they are still investigating circumstances surrounding the death of Ms Borus.

“US police told us that they must complete investigations before they release the body to the family. Probably by Thursday we shall get more information from the police,” said the source in a telephone conversation.

At the same time, the Stanford University’s administration declined to reveal the cause of her death only “encouraging students to reach out to counsellors”, as they left police to investigate the matter

Back in Kenya, family members and friends Tuesday started meeting at the All Saints Cathedral in Nairobi for burial arrangements.

The Nation learnt that friends also continue streaming to her rural home in Elgeyo-Marakwet County top condole with the family.

Ms Borus studied at Nairobi’s Precious Blood Riruta High School scored an A in her KCSE exam. She was the best-performing girl in Nairobi County in 2013.

She joined the Equity Bank African Leadership programme in 2014.

Even as police try to unravel the mystery surrounding her death, several similar incidents of students and other Kenyans who have died abroad remain unresolved.

In a span of two weeks, two deaths have been reported – that of Ms Borus and that of Ms Nancy Cheruiyot, another student who was found dead in her apartment in Australia.

Since her death, the Nation has learnt that police are yet to make any arrests even as they are reportedly in pursuit of a man who was spotted driving two cars linked to her murder.

Ms Cheruiyoit hailed from Cheptiret in Uasin Gishu County.

The two cars were later dumped at a car wrecking establishment in Australia.

She was reported missing after she failed to turn up for her sister’s graduation in the USA which she had been invited and had confirmed she would attend.

At least six other Kenyans have died abroad in the recent past.