Stephen Munyakho: Kenyan Man Set to Face Execution in Saudi Arabia Freed
- Stephen Munyakho was on death row in Saudi Arabia after being linked to the murder of Abdul Halim Mujahid Markad Saleh, a Yemeni national, in 2011
- Munyakho's family had been struggling to raise a sum of KSh 150 million to save their son from being executed
- However, Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing'oei announced that Munyakho is set to return home after securing his freedom
Faith Chandianya, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and Current Affairs in Kenya
Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing'oei, has issued an update on the case of Stephen Munyakho, who was on death row in Saudi Arabia.
Source: Facebook
Munyakho's case came to the limelight in May 2024, when his mother, former journalist Dorothy Kweyu, appealed to Kenyans to help her raise KSh 150m in blood money to save her son from execution.
Was Stephen Munyakho set free?
However, Munyakho's family can now heave a sigh of relief after PS Sing'oei announced that their son has been set free from Shimeisi Prison, where he was jailed.
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"Steve Abdukareem Munyakho, the Kenyan national who has been on death row in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is free as of 10am today under the full satisfaction of the judicial decree," Singoei's statement read in part.
According to Sing'oei, Steve performed his Muslim act of worship (minor pilgrimage) referred to as Umrah upon his release from custody.
The principal secretary further affirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs shall provide more details on how he shall arrive in the country.
"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," Korir added.
How was Stephen Munyakho's blood money paid?
This comes months after the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) secretary general Hassan Omar announced that the Muslim World League paid KSh 129.5 million blood money in exchange for Munyakho’s life.
Speaking on Tuesday, March 25, Omar stated that the Kenya Kwanza government had invited the Muslim World League secretary general to State House for a discussion with President William Ruto.
Source: Twitter
He stated that Ruto pleaded with the league to intervene and save Munyakho from execution in Saudi Arabia.
Omar added that following the plea, the league intervened and paid the required blood money.
Why was Munyakho on death row?
The Kenyan moved to Saudi Arabia 28 years ago in search of greener pastures. In 2011, his world came crumbling down after he got into an altercation with a Yemeni national identified as Abdul Halim Mujahid Markad Saleh.
Saleh ultimately died as a result of the injuries he sustained during the altercation.
The tragic incident led to Munyakho's conviction under the Sharia Law, and his survival relied on his family raising the required blood money or him facing execution on May 15, 2024.
However, the Kenyan government intervened and engaged with their counterparts in Riyadh, leading to the postponement of the execution.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
