Bring Diana Home: Kenyans wants Gov’t Intervention in Bringing Diana Chepkemoi From Saudi Arabia
Diana Chepkemoi, a Kenyan woman who got lost in Saudi Arabia, has family who are pleading with the authorities to help them get her back home.
Kenyans demanded that the former Meru University student be returned after pictures of her appearing run-down went viral.
Diana’s sister, Lorrain Cheptoo, revealed to Citizen Digital that her sibling is being kept in Saudi Arabia against her will.
“Diana is the second born in our family, she was pursuing food science and management before she deferred her studies because of financial issues. She looked for ways to make a living until mid-last year she got an opportunity to travel to Saudi Arabia as a domestic worker,” Cheptoo said.
Cheptoo, who last saw her sister in January of last year, said that despite the family’s initial reluctance, they ultimately had to support Diana’s choice to work in Saudi Arabia in the hopes that she would subsequently return to school.
Diana, according to her, admitted that her first impression of the place was positive.
She kept them informed of her progress as she worked abroad.
“We had occasional video calls and she seemed healthy until mid-July, Diana became unreachable on WhatsApp for a week, I reached out to her on another platform, she was reluctant and distant, almost scared. Eventually she disclosed that her boss had confiscated her phone and documents,” she said.
Soon after, Cheptoo said Diana became ill, she tried to access medication but her boss would not allow her to do so.
“You could tell something was clearly wrong, she said the boss was mistreating her, she was ill, couldn’t access hospital and her health was deteriorating quickly. The boss would only give her pain killers,” she said.
Cheptoo said her sister is under surveillance, and communicating with her has become difficult.
“We tried to talk to the boss and he said Diana is yet to complete her working days as per the contract she signed and is now holding her hostage. Once you see those photos circulating online, you will agree that my sister needs all the help she can get immediately, I am scared she might not make it home alive,” she lamented.
Susan Makungu of Ghazaan recruitment office, the agent who facilitated Diana’s employment in Saudi Arabia, said Diana’s case is genuine and urgent.
“Diana came to my office one and a half years ago; she had been working as domestic worker in Kenya and was looking for greener pastures. She loved working there, I deal with lots of girls, you can’t force anyone to work if they don’t want to work. Diana told me she is sick and has lost a lot of weight, and I made plans with our partners in Saudi Arabia,” she said.
Susan claims this is not the first case she has dealt with and her company ensures the girls are back in the country within 24 hours after being issued with an exit.
”Diana’s case is taking long because I am told she works for a high-profile individual and the authority there are scared to access the home. I am ready to pay the air ticket, I am waiting for foreign affairs and the Kenyan embassy to go to the house and give her an exit. She is not lying she is speaking the truth, she is sick and they are mistreating her,” she said.
