- Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia, is set to return home.
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The Muslim World League paid Ksh 129.5 million ($1 million) to secure his release.
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Negotiations were led by Saudi and Kenyan officials, with President Ruto’s involvement.
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UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar urged Kenyans abroad to respect foreign laws.
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Munyakho was convicted of killing a Yemeni national and had been imprisoned since 2012.
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Another Kenyan, Margaret Nduta, faces execution in Vietnam, with appeals ongoing.
Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan who was on death row in Saudi Arabia, is finally coming home after a successful diplomatic intervention. His freedom was secured after the Muslim World League stepped in and paid a settlement of Ksh 129.5 million ($1 million), according to UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar.
Speaking at an Iftar dinner hosted by President William Ruto at State House, Omar disclosed that the negotiations involved both Kenyan and Saudi authorities, with direct engagement from the head of state.
“Last year, we brought the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League to State House. Through SUPKEM and the President, we made a heartfelt appeal for the Kenyan who was facing execution in Saudi Arabia,” Omar stated.
The agreement was officially confirmed by Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Kenya, Khalid Al Salman, and Kenya’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mohamed Ramadhan Ruwange.
A Caution to Kenyans Living Abroad
While celebrating Munyakho’s release, Omar warned Kenyans abroad to respect the laws of their host nations, noting that while the government can intervene in some cases, its powers are not unlimited.
“To all Kenyans living abroad-whether in Vietnam, Malaysia, or South Africa-obey the laws of your host countries. The government can step in, but only to a certain extent,” he cautioned.
Munyakho’s Case and Legal Battle
Munyakho, who later adopted the name Abdulkareem, had been sentenced to death after being convicted of killing a Yemeni national. He had been imprisoned since 2012 and was initially required to raise Ksh 150 million as blood money to secure his release. His execution had been set for May 15, 2025, but Kenya’s diplomatic efforts postponed it by a year, paving the way for negotiations that ultimately led to his freedom.
His case gained national attention after his mother, veteran journalist Dorothy Kweyu, made a public appeal for the Kenyan government to step in and save her son.
Meanwhile, another Kenyan, Margaret Nduta, is facing execution in Vietnam over drug trafficking charges. The Kenyan government is currently appealing for her release in hopes of securing a similar outcome.
