King Kaka, Jalang’o weigh in on Kenyan student detained in Saudi Arabia

Piece by: Dennis Milimo

03 September 2022

• It's reported that Diana is sick but denied access to medical attention.

• Human rights groups and Diana's family both claimed that the university student, who appeared malnourished, is being held against her wish

Rapper King Kaka, MP Jalang'o and Politician Alinur Mohamed have joined the bandwagon calling for the immediate release of a Kenyan student allegedly detained in Saudi Arabia.

The Kaka Empire CEO expressed concerns about how Diana Chepkemoi was being treated by her employer in Saudi Arabia

A disappointed King Kaka wrote; “This Kenyan girl called Diana Chepkemoi, Meru University student who went to find work in Saudi Arabia. She went healthy, now she is enslaved. See her transformation. Our embassy has her location and employer's phone but they are sitting pretty waiting for her to die. Sad,”.

Credible reports indicate that Chepkemoi is being detained by a powerful family in Saudi Arabia where she had gone to work.

Human rights groups and Diana's family both claimed that the university student, who appeared malnourished, is being held in conditions that many compared to modern-day slavery

It's reported that Diana is sick but denied access to medical attention.

Jalang' o wrote; "My heart goes out to my sister Chepkemoi who left the country to go work in Saudi! She is a slave now and not even a worker! #BRINGCHEPBACKHOMESaudi Embassy! The kenya foreign affairs Team!!,".

City Politician Alinur Mohamed offered to pay for Diana’s ticket home and ensure she is reunited with her family.

“This Diana Chepkemoi story shows how the World has normalized violence against women in Saudi.

“Ironically, Saudi Arabia enjoys the Chairman of Human Rights Commission position in the UN. Since the Kenyan ambassador to Saudi has failed am ready to pay for Diana's ticket and bring her back,” Alinur said.

Diana Chepkemoi’s photos have since gone viral on social media – causing an uproar among Kenyans.

Most of those who were touched by her situation want the government and Kenya's embassy in Riyadh to step in, secure Diana's release from the employer's home, and then arrange for her return to Kenya.

According to reports, Chepekemoi went to Saudi as a domestic worker to save her family from financial constraints.

Activist Mutemi Wa Kiama started a hashtag #BringDianaHome, calling for the release of Diana by her employer.

"She, unfortunately, fell into the trap of slavery as she is being held against her will by her employer who has taken her passport and phone.

"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 employer's phone number," Mutemi wrote.

Diana’s sister Lorrain Cheptoo narrates that their family was reluctant to allow her sibling to travel to Saudi Arabia.

“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, but she was reluctant and distant, almost scared. Eventually, she disclosed that her boss had confiscated her phone and documents,” Cheptoo told Citizen Digital.