Family Nears Fundraising Goal to Repatriate Kenyan Uber Driver Killed in Louisiana

The family of Frederick Kiprono, a Kenyan Uber driver killed in a shooting in Louisiana, is close to securing the funds needed to return his body home for burial.

Kiprono was fatally shot on 19 November while driving along East Preston Avenue in Shreveport. He had been carrying two passengers when another vehicle opened fire in what police believe was a drive-by attack. 

Two occupants died at the scene, and a third was seriously injured. Kiprono’s identity was later confirmed through documents recovered at the site. His remains were transferred to a funeral home in Dallas as his family began arrangements for repatriation. 

A fundraising drive was launched to meet the estimated cost of Ksh 1.5 million (USD 12,000), covering transport and funeral expenses. By 26 November, contributions had reached about Ksh 1.1 million (USD 9,000), supported by donors in both the United States and Kenya. 

A memorial service was held in Dallas ahead of the planned return. Kiprono, 43, was the eldest of four siblings. He initially lived in Illinois before moving to Shreveport in 2018 at his brother’s suggestion. 

His brother later described the loss as devastating and remembered him as a humble man who worked quietly and diligently. His death comes amid rising homicide figures in Shreveport this year, prompting concerns about the safety of migrant workers employed in unfamiliar settings. 

Only days earlier, another Kenyan Uber driver, Brian Kiplimo, was assaulted in Dubai. Footage from 8 November shows him being choked by a passenger inside his vehicle, an incident that left his family deeply distressed. Kiplimo had moved to the UAE two months earlier in search of better opportunities.