- Margaret Nduta’s death sentence reduced to life imprisonment
- Vietnamese court decided after changes to the drug laws
- Nduta claimed she didn’t know drugs were in her luggage
- Kenyan government had asked for clemency through diplomacy
- Musalia Mudavadi urges Kenyans to know foreign laws when travelling
Margaret Nduta, a Kenyan woman who was previously sentenced to death for drug trafficking in Vietnam, has now been spared execution. Instead, she will serve life imprisonment following a decision by the Vietnamese Supreme Court.
Nduta was caught in July 2023 at the airport in Ho Chi Minh City, where authorities found two kilograms of illegal drugs in her possession. At the time, her case qualified for the death sentence under Vietnam’s strict anti-drug laws.
In her appeal, Nduta argued that she was just passing through Vietnam on her way to Laos and had no idea she was carrying drugs. She explained that she only discovered the problem after her connecting flight got delayed.
While the court still found her guilty, the judges reduced her sentence because Vietnam recently updated its laws. The country no longer allows the death penalty for some drug-related offences, and Nduta’s case qualified for this change.
Although she will now spend the rest of her life in prison, Nduta has the option of applying for clemency from Vietnam’s president.
This comes after strong efforts from the Kenyan government, which tried to protect her through diplomatic talks. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi had requested the Vietnamese authorities to stop the execution and give her a chance at a lighter sentence.
Speaking earlier in March 2025, Mudavadi reminded Kenyans to be very careful while travelling abroad, especially when it comes to legal issues.
“Please, young Kenyans that are going out, remember that the moment you board a plane and the wheels have lifted, when you land in whatever country you’re going into, the laws that apply are not Kenyan laws,” he warned.
Margaret’s story is a clear reminder of how serious drug-related charges can be outside Kenya. With over 1,000 Kenyans said to be locked up in foreign jails, the government continues to urge citizens to stay alert and avoid risky situations while overseas.
