Julius Kiprop
- The Kenyan government has secured a one-year postponement of Stephen Munyakho’s execution in Saudi Arabia.
- Munyakho was sentenced to death for a fatal altercation with a colleague in 2011, with the execution initially set for November 26, 2024.
- The postponement aims to allow time to raise Ksh.150 million in Diyah (blood money) for a potential pardon.
- His family, led by his mother, journalist Dorothy Kweyu, has raised Ksh.11 million so far through the “Bring Back Stevo” campaign.
- Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’oei and the Saudi Ambassador to Kenya, Mohamed Ruwange, facilitated the government’s negotiations.
The family of Stephen Munyakho has received a glimmer of hope after the Kenyan government secured a one-year delay in his execution in Saudi Arabia. Munyakho, who has spent the past 13 years in Saudi’s Shimeisha Prison following a fatal incident with a colleague in 2011, was initially set for execution on November 26, 2024. This extension provides the family with more time to meet the Diyah requirement under Islamic law, crucial for his pardon.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei announced the Kenyan government’s successful appeal for postponement on Thursday, following ongoing negotiations between the Kenyan and Saudi governments and the widow of the deceased. Under Islamic law, the victim’s family may grant pardon upon payment of blood money, known as Diyah, which in this case amounts to Ksh.150 million.
The “Bring Back Stephen” campaign, led by Munyakho’s mother, veteran journalist Dorothy Kweyu, has managed to collect Ksh.11 million thus far, with additional efforts underway. PS Sing’oei credited Saudi Ambassador Mohamed Ruwange’s involvement as crucial in facilitating this agreement, expressing confidence that the diplomatic relations between Kenya and Saudi Arabia would contribute toward a positive resolution.
The current postponement follows an earlier extension in May, when Saudi authorities agreed to delay Munyakho’s scheduled execution from May 15 to November 26, 2024. Despite government intervention, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi disclosed in July that there were no budgetary provisions to cover the Diyah amount on behalf of Munyakho, putting the responsibility squarely on the family and supporters.
As Munyakho’s family continues to raise funds for the Diyah payment, the one-year deadline has provided temporary relief and renewed hope for his eventual return. Their ongoing campaign calls for public support, with the ultimate goal of securing a pardon and bringing Stephen back home.
