Kenyans have expressed their disappointment in the government after photos of a university student, Diana Chepekemoi, being held against her will in Saudi Arabia went viral.
In the pictures circulated by Chepkemoi's family and human rights activists, the university student looked emaciated.
The majority of those who were touched by her plight want the government and the Embassy of Kenya in Riyadh to intervene and have Diana released from the employer's home and then repatriate her.
Chepekemoi reportedly secured the domestic work to save her family from financial constraints. She was first motivated by the desire to complete her studies, reportedly at Meru University and wanted to save some funds for her school fees.
Her mother also fell ill forcing Chepkemoi to find an agency that would facilitate her travel and find her work in Saudi Arabia.
"She is unwell but still being forced to work. We need your help Kenya to bring her back home. The embassy has been informed and has been given her location and employers phone number," activist Mutemi Wa Kiama stated.
Kenyans.co.ke spoke to her agent, Susan Makungu who runs an agency, Makungu International, after Chepekemoi's family blamed her for her woes.
Makungu who facilitated Chepkemoi to travel to Riyadh, confirmed that she had tried to bring her back home but was facing stiff resistance from the employer.
The agent lamented that she had gotten in touch with the Kenyan Embassy in Saudi Arabia and her counterparts in Riyadh who even involved the police but Chepkemoi was not granted her freedom.
She added that the university student was sick and had not received proper medical treatment.
"Our team from the other side got in touch with the police who went to the house but they could not even get access to the employer. Even the police in the country are afraid of the family.
"We are being told that the family is well connected and influential people. When I last spoke to Diana she told me that they were four househelps and this shows that the family is bigger and wealthy and has connections thus complicating this case," Makungu disclosed.
She added that she was willing to purchase Chepkemoi's flight ticket once she is released.
"I reached out to the embassy and am still awaiting their official communication," Makungu told Kenyans.co.ke.
Kenyans.co.ke reached out to Foreign Affairs principal secretary, Ambassador Kamau Macharia, who was unavailable for comment.
Central Organisation of Trade Unions secretary general, Francis Atwoli, was also unreachable. Chepkemoi's employer's phone was also switched off and he had not responded by time of publishing.
In 2021, Kenya’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that 89 Kenyans, most of them domestic workers, passed away in Saudi Arabia in the last two years.
Saudi authorities told their Kenyan counterparts that most of the cases were related to heart attacks. Kenya admitted that it never conducted independent investigations into the issue.
