As Diana Chepkemoi touched down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Terminal 1A on Tuesday, September 6, hundreds of other girls were waiting for their next flight to depart to Saudi Arabia.
Chepkemoi's plight seemingly did little to convince the job seekers that the land of milk and honey was not as many portrayed. As she cried, hugging her mother in tears, Chepkemoi narrated that her friends in the gulf state were suffering both mentally and psychologically.
However, one of those who had secured employment opportunities in Saudi Arabia was a 22-year-old who claimed that she was not scared by the horrific stories, even that of Chepkemoi, who was within her breathing distance at JKIA.
Speaking to the media at JKIA, the hopeful 22-year-old confirmed that she was heading to Saudi Arabia after securing a two-year contract with a guarantee of a Ksh28,800 monthly salary.
Disclosing why she chose to ignore all the horrendous stories, she lamented that she had sought jobs in Kenya to no avail.
She could barely raise Ksh200 a day to support her family and siblings, and menial jobs were had to come by.
"Anyone can die anywhere. I have heard about those cases, but it does not mean it will happen to me. After all, anyone can die anywhere. We will all die and it could also happen to me while in Kenya," she stated
"I did catering in school, but I've not secured a good job. I only earned Ksh200 per day from the hotels I have worked in. This job in Saudi (Arabia) could be my luck," she added.
The same stories were shared by hundreds of others who were waiting for clearance before boarding the next plane to leave the country.
Chepkemoi's plight was addressed through a single social media post which went viral, prompting the government to take action. The 24-year-old could not hide her joy upon seeing dozens of her relatives and friends cheering and ululating at the terminal.
"Mine is just to say, if I can be honest, people are suffering there; my friends are suffering there. It is just that my voice was heard and I found support. People are suffering. Just please do something.
"People there are being mentally tortured, psychologically tortured. And it is not fair," she stated while asking the government to intervene.
The same plane Chepkemoi boarded was reportedly carrying the body of another girl who had passed on in Saudi Arabia.
Following her plight, Simon Chelugui, Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection, stated that the government has established a centre to help Kenyans seeking jobs in the Gulf country.
