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Tag: Stephen Munyakho

  • Kenyan freed from death row in Saudi Arabia returns home tonight

    Kenyan freed from death row in Saudi Arabia returns home tonight

    Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan who had been on death row in Saudi Arabia, is expected to land at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) tonight at 11:00PM.

    Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi announced Monday that Munyakho will arrive from Jeddah, marking the end of a 13-year ordeal that began in April 2011, when he was involved in a fatal altercation with a Yemeni colleague while working as a warehouse manager.

    The colleague later succumbed to his injuries, leading to Munyakho’s conviction for manslaughter in 2012 and a death sentence issued in 2023.

    His execution, initially scheduled for May last year, was deferred following sustained diplomatic efforts between Kenya and Saudi Arabia.

    “PCS thanked H.E. President William Ruto, who 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,” a statement from the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary (OPCS) reads.

    The intervention opened the door for negotiations with the victim’s family, who later accepted Ksh129 million in blood money paid by the Muslim World League, paving the way for Munyakho’s release and pardon from execution.

    His family, led by his mother Dorothy Kweyu, also rallied national support for his freedom by mobilising funds under the #LetsBringBackStevo campaign.

    Munyakho has since converted to Islam and is now known as Abdulkareem, having performed the Umrah (minor pilgrimage) following his release.

    Mudavadi thanked all parties involved, including the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, the “Bring Back Stevo” strategy committee, and the Ministry’s diplomatic team led by PS Korir Sing’oei.

    He commended Saudi authorities for their cooperation, noting that the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs remains committed to safeguarding the rights and welfare of Kenyans abroad.

  • Munyakho is finally free: Kenyan man on death row in Saudi Arabia released

    Munyakho is finally free: Kenyan man on death row in Saudi Arabia released

    Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan who had been on death row in Saudi Arabia for 13 years, is finally free.

    The good news was announced Tuesday by the Principal Secretary for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’oei.

    “Steve Abdukareem Munyakho, the Kenyan national who has been on death row in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is free as at 10 am today pursuant to the full satisfaction of judicial decree”, the PS communicated the news on his X.

    Munyakho had been working in Saudi Arabia as a warehouse manager when he was involved in a fight with a Yemeni colleague in April 2011. The colleague later succumbed to his injuries, leading to Munyakho’s conviction in 2012.

    Sing’oei said Kenya’s mission in Riyadh has confirmed that Munyakho, now known as Abdulkareem and the eldest son of veteran journalist Dorothy Kweyu, performed his Umrah (minor pilgrimage) upon release. He added that further details regarding his return to the country will be provided in due course.

    Additionally, he commended all those who had been involved in the efforts to secure his release.

    “Our Mission in Riyadh has confirmed that Steve performed his Umra (minor pilgrimage) upon release. We shall provide further details regarding his arrival in the country. I commend all who have offered their support towards securing this outcome,” he noted.

    In March, United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Hassan Omar, during the State Iftar dinner hosted by President William Ruto at State House, said the Muslim World League paid Ksh 129 million blood money needed for his release and pardon from execution.

    Last year, a campaign was launched under the hashtag #LetsBringBackStevo, aiming to raise Ksh 150 million from Kenyans.

    He was due to be executed last May but the Kenyan government at the time said Saudi authorities agreed to put it off pending further negotiations involving not only diplomats but religious leaders.

     

  • Family of Kenyan set to face death in Saudi yet to receive funds for his release

    Family of Kenyan set to face death in Saudi yet to receive funds for his release

    The family of Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan on death row in Saudia Arabia is yet to receive funds for his release.

    The family spoke following media reports that one of the institutional benefactors paid the balance of Ksh 2.9 million of the Ksh 3.5 million Saudi riyals blood money set by the court as a condition for his release.

    “If accurate, this information will be an answered prayer for the many well-wishers supporting the Save Stevo Campaign,” the family said through a statement.

    “However, we have yet to receive an official communication as a committee. We have contacted government officials in Kenya and Saudi Arabia and will notify the public of the latest developments.”

    This follows after United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Hassan Omar said that Muslim World League paid over Ksh 129 million for the release of a Kenyan facing death sentence in Saudi Arabia.

    Speaking on Tuesday night during the State Iftar dinner hosted by President William Ruto at State House, the UDA SG said the Muslim World League paid off one million dollars to facilitate the return of Stephen Munyakho.

    Omar said the request for the release of Munyakho popularly known as Stevo has been honored and the Saudi Arabian ambassador to Kenya and Kenya’s ambassador in Saudi Arabia have confirmed.

    Omar at the same time warned Kenyans abroad to familiarize themselves with host countries’ laws to avoid running afoul of them.

    Stevo, the eldest son of veteran journalist Dorothy Kweyu was convicted of manslaughter in October 2012, a sentence that was overturned by a Shariah court, enhancing it to murder.

    He has been incarcerated for the past 13 years and, as of yesterday, is still being held in Dhaban prison, Jeddah.

  • Gov’t to issue update on Munyakho facing death sentence in Saudi

    Gov’t to issue update on Munyakho facing death sentence in Saudi

    The government says it will in the next few days provide a progress report to the public on the matter involving Stephen Munyakho.

    Munyakho is facing execution in Saudi Arabia for the murder of a Yemeni man in the year 2011. In a brief post on X, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei said the government is actively pursuing the matter.

    “I am pleased to inform that we shall provide a progress report to the public on this matter in the next few days” he said.

    Munyakho has been in jail for the last 13 years. He was scheduled to be executed on November 26th 2024, but this was postponed after Kenya reached out to the Saudi Authorities for consultations.

    Meanwhile, Stevo’s family continues to appeal for support to raise Ksh 150 million required to secure a pardon from the victim’s family.

    As at July last year, the family had through the public appeal only managed to raise Ksh11 million.

    Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV, Munyakho’s mother, Dorothy Kweyu, a veteran journalist, said her son was remorseful and continues to plead for forgiveness.