Diana Chepkemoi, a Kenyan student who had been detained in Saudi Arabia, revealed intricate details of her troubles in Saudi Arabia during her emotional arrival at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA).
Speaking to the press on Tuesday, September 6, Chepkemoi dispelled claims of her being rude and affirmed that her employer kept mistreating her, with the knowledge that no action could be taken against them.
She added that she underwent physical and psychological trauma during her stay in the gulf country. She added that her case was a tip of the iceberg as it reflected the desperate tales of many Kenyans.
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"I left Kenya to go to Saudi Arabia with the hopes of getting a better life and to be honest, mine was just a tip on the iceberg, people are suffering there. My friends are suffering. I plead with the government to rescue our people. They are psychologically and mentally tortured. It's a shame being told that there is nothing the government can do."
"I wasn't rude, I was doing my job. The problems started when I arrived in Saudi Arabia, I had an issue with her. I reported to my agent but instead of helping, he kept silent over the matter.
A teary-eyed Chepkemoi noted that she had left hundreds of Kenyans in a desolate state in the gulf country. She urged the government to look into their plea.
"I'm fortunate that I received support from people but there are those who are not mentally okay as they don't know their names or their surroundings."
"They sent a plea to the Kenyan government to rescue them from Saudi Arabia," Chepkemoi stated.
The student's mother also expressed her gratitude for her daughter's arrival in the country after what she termed an anxiety-ridden situation.
"I'm so grateful that Diana is back. I can't explain my happiness," the mother stated.
A representative from the pan-African human rights organization, HAKI Africa, also urged the government to solve the crisis and bring all the Kenyans who are suffering in the gulf country.
"Where is the Kenyan government? What are you doing about the Kenyans suffering in the gulf countries? The next government must consider creating jobs locally to aid in the unemployment situation in Kenya. We need to bring back our people," he stated.
Politician Veska Kangogo also highlighted the plight of another Kenyan family whose kin, Joan Cheruto's body was supposed to be repatriated but had gone missing.
"There's a family which came to pick a body belonging to Joan Cheruto but they have not been able to receive the body. The family is in pain so let's ask the Saudia embassy where Cheruto's body is," she urged.
