'She became distant': Diana Chepkemoi's sister seeks help bringing her back from Saudi Arabia

The family of Diana Chepkemoi - a Kenyan stranded in Saudi Arabia - is appealing for assistance from the government to bring her back home.

Photos of the former Meru University student looking haggard went viral and Kenyans called for her to be brought back to the country.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, Diana’s sister, Lorrain Cheptoo, disclosed that her sibling is being held 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.

According to Cheptoo who last saw her sister in January last year, the family was reluctant at first but had to support Diana and her decision to go work in Saudi Arabia with the hope of continuing with her education later.

She said Diana disclosed that her experience there was good on arrival.

She constantly updated them on the progress working in a foreign country.

“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.