Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan national who had been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for manslaughter, has been released and is expected to return home as early as today, following sustained diplomatic efforts by the Government of Kenya.
Munyakho’s death sentence, handed down last year, was deferred after the family of the deceased accepted diyya (blood money) amounting to approximately KSh 129 million, paving the way for his release.
In July last year, while addressing the Senate plenary, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, H.E. Musalia Mudavadi, confirmed that the Ministry had intervened to stop the execution.
“I wish to state that a few weeks ago, I officially wrote to the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, intervening on behalf of Mr. Munyakho. The execution was deferred and did not take place,” Mudavadi said at the time.
Immediately after the death sentence was pronounced, Dr. Mudavadi wrote to the Saudi Foreign Minister and appealed for clemency.
“This intervention led to a postponement of the execution, initially set for May 15, to allow negotiations over the blood money demanded by the deceased’s family. H.E. President Ruto also intervened by speaking directly with Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, ruler of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, requesting a delay in the execution as Kenya pursued the matter diplomatically,” said Mudavadi.
Therefore, Mr. Munyahko’s release is the culmination of months of high-level diplomatic engagement between Nairobi and Riyadh, underscoring Kenya’s commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of its citizens abroad.
Upon his release yesterday, Mr. Munyakho was facilitated to perform Umrah (minor pilgrimage) at the request of the Kenyan Embassy to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, before being transferred from prison to a deportation center.
“He has been moved from the prison to the deportation centre, awaiting clearance for immediate deportation,” said Mudavadi.
The Embassy has already prepared an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) for Mr. Munyakho, as his passport had expired during his incarceration. The Saudi authorities have agreed to cover the full cost of his deportation.
“The Embassy is now awaiting confirmation of the date and time of his deportation flight, which could happen today. The government will communicate this as soon as we have the details,” Mudavadi added.
He further recounted that after the death sentence was pronounced, he wrote to the Saudi Foreign Minister and appealed for clemency.
This intervention led to a postponement of the execution, initially set for May 15, to allow negotiations over the blood money demanded by the deceased’s family.
At the time, Mudavadi met with Munyakho’s family in Kenya, who were struggling to raise the substantial compensation demanded. The government worked to persuade the family of the deceased to lower the amount to enable a quicker resolution.
“We are happy that Mr. Munyakho will be back soon to reunite with his family,” said Mudavadi, commending the collaborative efforts that led to his release.
The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs has reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the rights and welfare of Kenyans abroad, and thanked the Saudi authorities for their cooperation in resolving the matter.
