A 30-year-old woman from Kwale County has been detained in Saudi Arabia by her employer over alleged theft.

The family of Mwanakombo Bakari Mbarak has asked the Kenya government to intervene after Mwanakombo was accused by the employer, identified as Ali Saeed Mesfer Alasmri, of stealing a laptop, playstation and clothes.

Her sisters, Salama and Rehema Mbarak, yesterday told the Star Mwanakombo had been framed by the employer after she demanded her several months' salary.

"Police arrested her on December 17 after the claims. The employer later said the matter had been settled and that it should not be mentioned anywhere else," said Rehema, Mwanakombo's eldest sister.

Mwanakombo left Kenya in March 2011 for a two-year employment in Saudi Arabia. She was arrested and detained at a Maqtab (detention camp) and later moved to an undisclosed location for two weeks without proper food or medication, the sisters said.