Stephen Munyakho to arrive in Kenya tonight after Saudi death row release, Mudavadi confirms

Stephen Munyakho who spent 13 years on death row in Saudi Arabia. He was officially released on July 22, 2025. (Photo: Handout)

By Lucy Mumbi
Monday, July 28, 2025

His execution, initially handed down last year, was halted after the family of the deceased accepted diyya, blood money, amounting to approximately Sh129 million.

Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan man who had been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for manslaughter, is expected to arrive at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) tonight, Monday, July 28, 2025.

According to Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, Munyakho will jet into the country at 11:00 pm aboard a flight from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

More To Read

His release follows a combination of sustained diplomatic efforts by the Kenyan government, significant philanthropic contributions and nationwide prayers. The execution, initially handed down last year, was halted after the family of the deceased accepted diyya, blood money, amounting to approximately Sh129 million.

Mudavadi expressed deep gratitude to all those who made Munyakho’s return possible.

“Immediately when he was given a death sentence, I officially wrote to the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia intervening on behalf of Mr. Munyakho, and the execution was deferred,” Mudavadi said.

He also thanked President William Ruto for directly engaging Saudi Arabia’s ruler, Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, to request a delay in the execution as Kenya pursued a diplomatic resolution.

The Prime CS acknowledged the immense financial support from various individuals and groups who contributed towards the diyya, particularly the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), the Kenyan Muslim community, the Muslim World League, the Kenyan Conference of Catholic Bishops and “millions of Kenyans through their big and small contributions and prayers.”

He extended appreciation to the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for allowing the diplomatic engagement, noting that it “demonstrates the deep and friendly relationship between our two countries.”

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei was also commended for his “relentless diplomatic efforts,” as was the Bring Back Stevo campaign strategy committee, chaired by Joseph Odindo.

A special mention was made of Munyakho’s family, with Mudavadi praising “the indefatigable spirit of his mother and veteran journalist Dorothy Kweyu.”

“The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs is committed to safeguarding the rights and welfare of Kenyans abroad and will continue to relentlessly ensure better living conditions for our people overseas,” Mudavadi said.

In an interview with a local station last week, Kweyu expressed profound relief and joy following news of her son’s release from death row in Saudi Arabia, describing his homecoming as nothing short of divine intervention.

“I will need to see him just to reaffirm the greatness of God,” she said, noting that she last spoke to her son on July 15.

“His homecoming means a lot to me because, in an African home, he is the leader of the rest. The news of his release came at the best time, just as I was sinking into despair.”

Stepheno is Kweyu’s firstborn in a family of 10 children. She said he has three children of his own: a 31-year-old daughter, a 29-year-old son who marked his birthday in April and a lastborn who will turn 25 in November.