By Dorothy Musyoka
Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan citizen who had been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for manslaughter, has been released and is expected to return to Kenya imminently.
His release follows a high-level negotiations between the governments of Kenya and Saudi Arabia.
The diplomatic efforts were spearheaded by H.E. President William Ruto, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dr. Korir Sing’Oei, with support from the and dedicated Ministry staff.
According to a press statement by Prime CS, Mr. Munyakho’s ordeal began with a death sentence delivered last year.
However, the Kenyan government swiftly intervened to halt the execution, which had initially been scheduled for May 15.
“In July last year, while addressing the senate plenary, H.E Musalia Mudavadi confirmed that the Ministry had intervened to stop the execution and noted that he officially wrote to the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, intervening on behalf of Mr.Munyakho.The execution was deferred and did not take place,” read the statement.
“Mr.Munyakho’s death sentence, handed down last year, was deferred after the family of the deceased accepted diyya (blood money amounting approximately Ksh129million, paving the way for his release,” the statement read in part.
PCS Mudavadi also met with Munyakho’s family in Kenya to help them navigate the substantial compensation process.
Following his release from prison, Mr. Munyakho was granted the opportunity to perform Umrah (minor pilgrimage) at the request of the Kenyan Embassy before being moved to a deportation facility.
The embassy has issued an Emergency Travel Document, and Saudi authorities have agreed to cover the cost of his deportation. He is now awaiting confirmation of his flight back to Kenya.
The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs reiterated its pledge to safeguard the rights and dignity of all Kenyan citizens globally and extended its gratitude to Saudi authorities for their cooperation in resolving the matter.