This archive report was first published on 5 July 2021.
July 5, 2021, will forever be etched in the memory of Catherine Murigi as the day she discovered her sister's betrayal. The 22-year-old had left Kenya to work in Saudi Arabia, sending back a significant portion of her earnings to her sister, who was supposed to invest it for her.
However, instead of guarding her hard-earned money, Catherine's sister ruthlessly swindled her, buying properties in her own name and enlisting Catherine as just a next of kin. The shocking revelation came when Catherine returned to Kenya after five years of working in Saudi Arabia.
'I saved a lot of money, and at the time, there were so many plots being sold, so I told my sister to buy me one of the plots,' Catherine recalled in an interview with Radio Jambo's Massawe Jappani. 'I wanted the plot to be in a well-developed place. After all, I saw I had the potential to purchase and build one even if it meant working extra years because by then, I had no binding contract, so I was free.'
According to Catherine, she sent over Sh. 1 million during her five-year stint in Saudi Arabia. However, upon her return, she was shocked to find that her sister had bought a plot in her name and opened a bakery business in town, registered in her name. When she confronted her sister, Catherine was told off, with her sister refusing to hand over the land or the bakery.
Despite the betrayal, Catherine has since forgiven her sister, citing the need for her own peace of mind.
