A Shared Life, A Shared Death

Alice and Ellen Kessler, the identical twin sisters who became symbols of post-war European entertainment, have died together at their home in Grünwald, Germany, on Monday, 17 November 2025, at the age of 89. Their deaths were the result of a joint medically assisted suicide, a decision the sisters had publicly stated was their wish in order to avoid one outliving the other. The German Society for Humane Dying (DGHS), a Berlin-based assisted dying association, confirmed it had facilitated the process, stating the decision was "well thought through" and made over a long period. A spokesperson for the DGHS, Wega Wetzel, confirmed that the sisters self-administered life-ending medication in the presence of a doctor and a lawyer, as per German law. Local police were notified and reported no signs of foul play.

From East Germany to International Stardom

Born on 20 August 1936, in Nerchau, Germany, the Kessler twins began their journey in the arts as ballet students at the Leipzig Opera. In 1952, at the age of 16, their family fled the former East Germany for Düsseldorf in West Germany to escape the communist regime. Their talent was quickly recognized, leading them to the famed Lido cabaret in Paris, where they performed from 1955 to 1960. This launched an international career that saw them become household names across Europe. They represented West Germany in the 1959 Eurovision Song Contest, finishing in eighth place with their song "Heute Abend wollen wir tanzen geh'n" ("Tonight we want to go dancing").

Their greatest success came in Italy, where they moved in the early 1960s. Starring in the popular RAI television variety show "Studio Uno," they captivated the nation with their synchronized dance routines and glamorous style, earning the affectionate nickname "the nation's legs." Their influence was so profound that they are credited with bringing a modern, international flair to Italian television. The twins also made a mark in the United States, appearing on "The Ed Sullivan Show" and sharing stages with global icons like Frank Sinatra, Fred Astaire, and Harry Belafonte.

Inseparable in life, the sisters, who never married, returned to Germany in 1986 and lived in adjoining apartments near Munich. They had expressed their desire for their ashes to be placed in a single urn alongside their mother and their dog.

The Global Debate on Assisted Dying: A Kenyan Perspective

The Kesslers' choice to die together has brought renewed attention to the complex issue of assisted dying. In Germany, the legal landscape shifted significantly in February 2020 when the Federal Constitutional Court overturned a ban on professionally assisted suicide. The court ruled that the right to a self-determined death is a fundamental personal right guaranteed by the constitution, which includes the freedom to take one's own life and seek voluntary assistance to do so. This ruling allows organizations like the DGHS to operate within a legal framework, providing assistance to individuals who are clear-headed and making a free, uncoerced decision. Active euthanasia, where a doctor directly administers a lethal drug, remains illegal.

This stands in stark contrast to the legal and ethical framework in Kenya. Assisted suicide and euthanasia are illegal in Kenya and are classified as murder under the Penal Code. Article 26 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010 enshrines the right to life, which is interpreted as beginning at conception and protected until natural death. The debate in Kenya is largely confined to academic and religious circles, with strong cultural and religious opposition to any form of intentional life-ending act. While some Kenyans have reportedly travelled abroad to countries where the practice is legal, the domestic conversation focuses more on improving palliative care. According to the Ministry of Health's Kenya Palliative Care Policy 2021-2030, an estimated 800,000 Kenyans require such care annually, but access remains severely limited. The Kessler twins' story, therefore, not only marks the end of an era for European entertainment but also serves as a powerful case study in the divergent global paths regarding one of life's most profound questions: the right to choose when and how to die.