Born in Farrozandmar, Kennekelle Palmer grew up in a large family of fishermen. Regularly operating her family's stall at the Far Sands Market from an extremely young age, "Keke" had a poor childhood. As the waters around Igneos Isle grew more dangerous, the family struggled to sell enough fish to properly bargain, and mostly lived off their own catch, which she learned how to prepare into stews and soups.
When a position as a cook at Bleak End was opened, Keke took on the offer, proving her skills and knowledge to the recruiters. She spent the next week readying herself to join twenty-three others on the journey to Aone Island.