Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa revealed that Kenyan national Diana Chepkemoi, who was stranded and held against her will in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia was rescued following efforts from leaders and a section of Kenyans.
The MP, on Saturday, September 3, stated that the university student who was working as a domestic worker in Riyadh was taken to hospital owing to her poor health.
Barasa added that Chepkemoi was assessed and a preliminary report will be released prior to her release.
The Kenyan embassy in Riyadh also arranged for a delegation to visit the hospital. Kenya’s commercial attache to Riyadh will further analyse her medical reports.
File image of Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa addressing journalists in Nairobi, Kenya.
Barasa as well noted that the government was working with authorities in Saudi Arabia to ensure Chepkemoi is in good health before repatriating her back to the country.
Doctors were also said to be conducting a medical assessment to confirm Chepkemoi’s wellbeing before allowing her to fly back home.
“Am glad to report that I have gotten in touch with Mama Clara Maritim, the mother of Dianna Chepkemoi. I have also received information from CS Simon Chelugui (Labour Cabinet Secretary), with whom I am in direct communication and has confirmed that Diana was taken to the hospital for treatment and assessment.
“I am waiting to see the medical report tomorrow for further action. The medical assessment being undertaken will also confirm her suitability to fly, an action that is running concurrently with her exit visa processing,” Barasa stated.
The government, according to the vocal MP, wants to second a senior labour officer to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to work closely with Kenyan recruitment agencies and avoid such incidences.
Kenyans.co.ke was among the first media houses to air Chepekemoi’s grievances. The top digital media house spoke directly with her agent, Susan Makungu who runs an agency dubbed Makungu Internationa who confirmed that her efforts to bring her back home were futile.
“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 lamented.
Kenyans.co.ke also reached out to the Ministry of Foreign and Central Organisation of Trade Unions secretary general, Francis Atwoli, in a bid to push them yo intervene on Chepekemoi’s family;s behalf.
Diana Chepkemoi, a Kenyan University student working as a house manager in Saudi Arabia
Kenyans had lamented and accused the government of not playing its part after photos of Chepekemoi looking malnourished went viral.
Chepekemoi travelled to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia after she secured employment as a domestic worker to save her family from financial constraints and also raise money to complete her education.
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