RESCUED

Chepkemoi returns to Kenya today - Embassy confirms

She was allegedly mistreated and stranded in Saudi Arabia.

In Summary

• The embassy in a statement said that Chepkemoi was taken to hospital for medical check up.

• The Saudi Arabia Embassy in Kenya had earlier dismissed reports that Chepkemoi was mistreated while in the gulf state.

Diana Chepkemoi./Collage
Diana Chepkemoi./Collage

The Kenyan embassy to Riyath has confirmed that Diana Chepkemoi will arrive in the country on Monday.

Chepkemoi caught the attention of Kenyans after photos of her looking emaciated surfaced on social media. 

She was allegedly mistreated and stranded in Saudi Arabia.

On Saturday, her family appealed for assistance from the government to bring her back home.

The embassy in a statement on Monday said Chepkemoi was taken to the hospital for medical check up.

"Chepkemoi was picked from her employer's house by an ambulance, rushed to a top level hospital (Shamesi) in Riyadh for checkup, discharged and referred to a specialized hospital for further diagnosis and given a clean bill of health," the statement read.

The Saudi Arabia Embassy in Kenya had earlier dismissed reports that Chepkemoi was mistreated while in the gulf state.

In a statement, the Saudi embassy in Nairobi said she was suffering 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," it said.

"The woman suffers from a normal health condition and was not subjected to any kind of ill treatment."

The statement said the Kenyan embassy in Saudi Arabia was 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.

The Kenyan embassy thanked the ministry of labour and the Consular Departments of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for their quick response and intervention in this case.

WATCH: The latest videos from the Star
WATCH: The latest videos from the Star