Diana Chepkemoi, a Kenyan student who had been detained against her will in Saudi Arabia, has been freed and taken to a hospital.
Following an outcry from Kenyans from all walks of life, the University student who had been detained and mistreated by her employer was released.
According to reliable reports, the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh intervened and secured Chepkemoi’s release.
She will be examined before flying back home.
The developments come after photos of the 24-year-old, who appeared emaciated, surfaced online amid reports that her employer had detained her in the Gulf country.
Kenyans were outraged by the photos, and they demanded that relevant authorities take immediate action to ensure she returned home.
Her family also pleaded with the government to assist in the return of their daughter, claiming that she is being held against her will and is without medication despite her medical condition.
Chepkemoi, a Meru University student, deferred her studies and traveled to Saudi Arabia in June 2021 in search of work to help her family and pay school fees.
“She was in good health jovial and full of optimism,” said her family.
On Saturday, human rights groups and Diana’s family mounted pressure on the government to secure Diana’s freedom after her malnourished photos went viral.
Diana’s sister Lorrain Cheptoo narrates that their family was reluctant to allow her sibling to travel to Saudi Arabia.
“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, but she was reluctant and distant, almost scared. Eventually, she disclosed that her boss had confiscated her phone and documents,” Cheptoo said.
She confirmed that she is aware of the plight of Chepkemoi but her efforts to bring her back have been thwarted by the employer. She gave her commitment to help Chepkemoi return home.
