If she was a rich white businessman, sports star or media personality who died in the middle of our biggest city under suspicious circumstances, her death would be making waves across Australia.
But she’s a black woman who worked as a cleaner.
And so her death almost passed us by.
Her name is Sheila Chebii. She died on May 17.
Sheila was found unresponsive on a fourth-floor balcony at Meriton Suites in the Sydney CBD.
Sheila was working as a cleaner when she passed away. She had only been in Australia for a few weeks.
Police say there is no evidence she killed herself and claim there is no evidence anyone else is involved. Given Australia’s history of hidden homicides, I take this claim with a grain of salt.
NSW Police never bothered alerting media to her death and it is only because of women in the Kenyan community that we know she existed.
In Kenya, Sheila’s death has had more attention than here in Australia.
“Sheila left Kenya on April 4, 2026. Barely two months after, she was found dead,” National Assembly member Timothy Toroitich told her country’s parliament.
“This is a young lady who was carrying the dreams and aspirations of her family.
“So far, there has been no major truth on the death of Sheila, as the government, we have an obligation to protect the lives of our young people.”
Women have marched for Sheila and a GoFundMe is operating.
There are concerns she died as a result of her employment and that SafeWork NSW is not doing its due diligence.
One thing is clear. If Sheila were not a black cleaner from Kenya, there’d be more discussions about her far-too short life and senseless death.
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