The Saudi Arabia Embassy in Kenya has dismissed reports that Kenyan Diana Chepkemoi was mistreated while in the gulf state.
In a statement on its Twitter handle, the Saudi embassy in Nairobi said Sunday Chepkemoi suffers from "a normal health condition".
"In reference to what was circulated on social media regarding allegations of a mistreatment of a Kenyan woman residing in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Embassy would like to clarify the following," the statement said.
"The woman suffers from a normal health condition and was not subjected to any kind of ill treatment," it added.
The statement said the Kenyan embassy in Saudi Arabia "is fully aware" of Chepkemoi's medical condition.
"In this regard, the Embassy affirms the Kingdom's full keenness to protect full rights of residents living on its lands of various nationalities and that the laws followed in the Kingdom are strict towards any practices that violate human dignity, whoever they are," the statement affirmed.
On Sunday, Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Macharia Kamau said in a tweet that Chepkemoi was now in safe hands.
This followed an uproar by Kenyans on Twitter over her safety.
"This matter was taken up by our ambassador in Saudi Arabia and the lady is now in safe hands," Macharia said.
Photos circulated online showed an emaciated and frail Chepkemoi, a stark opposite of her former healthy stature prior to her departure to the Gulf.
Her mother, Clara Cherotich, said her daughter went to Saudi Arabia in May after failing to raise school fees.
She last saw her in March 2021, when Chepkomoi informed her of her plans to travel. She couldn't see her off at the airport due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Chepkemoi was pursuing food science and management before she deferred her studies and left to look for school fees.
