Born in Kenya, she began competing for Bahrain in 2005. She made her international debut at that year's Arab Athletics Championships, taking the 5000 metres bronze medal before going on to win both the 10,000 metres and half marathon events. Her time of 34:45.47 minutes for the 10,000 metres was a Bahraini national record. She headed to Europe for the start of the 2006 season and was runner-up at the Cross della Vallagarina before taking the title at the Corrida di San Geminiano road race. At the 2006 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships she came fourth in the 3000 m but set a national record mark of 9:28.90 minutes. Her global debut came in the short race of the 2006 IAAF World Cross Country Championships, where she came 28th. Moving into the track season, at the 2006 Asian Junior Athletics Championships she fourth in the 3000 m and the 5000 m silver medallist. She managed only 13th in the 3000 m at the 2006 World Junior Championships in Athletics. The Arab Junior Championships saw her take a sweep of medals, winning the 3000 m, 5000 m and steeplechase titles (setting a national record of 10:35.8 minutes in the latter event).