One of Dasarath’s wives. The others were Kausalya and Sumitra. Kaikeyi was the sister of Yudhajit, the king of Kekaya, as per Ramayana Ayodhyakanda Sarga 70 verse 28. The Kekaya kingdom was a seven day journey from Ayodhya.

Once during a devasura war, Dasarath went to swargaloka, with Kaikeyi, to help Indra. The devas were being tormented by Shambara and his army. Dasarath fought in ten directions at the same time and scattered the asuras. Because the chariot was being pulled in different directions, a wheel shaft key became loose and started falling off. Kaikeyi saw this, and held the key in place. Dasarath didn’t realise this until later and was so pleased that he gave Kaikeyi two boons. She replied that she would use them later. They then returned to Ayodhya as per Ramayana Ayodhyakanda Sarga 9.

Later, when Ayodhya was getting ready to anoint Rama as its prince, Mandhara approached Kaikeyi and advised her to send Rama into exile and make Bharat king. Though she refused at first, Mandhara finally cajoled her into demanding it. She lay in distress until Dasarath found her, and then demanded the two boons he had given her earlier. She wanted Bharat to be prince and Rama to be sent into exile for fourteen years. Dasarath fell unconscious but was forced to fulfill his promise.