Kenyan on death row in Saudi Arabia to return home as Muslim World League pays Sh129.5m
The amount was paid by the Muslim World League, whose Secretary-General is Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa.
Kenyans can now breathe a sigh of relief after a Muslim organisation intervened to secure the release of Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan who has been on death row in Saudi Arabia for over a decade.
United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Hassan Omar announced that $1 million (Sh129.5 million) had been paid to facilitate his return home.
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The amount was paid by the Muslim World League, whose Secretary-General is Dr. Mohammed bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa.
“The Saudi Arabian ambassador to Kenya and Kenya’s ambassador in Saudi Arabia have confirmed that the request has been honoured. The $1 million has been paid, and the Kenyan will return home safe,” he said.
Munyakho was convicted of manslaughter in 2013 for the killing of Yemeni national Abdul Halim Mujahid Makrad Saleh.
The incident, which took place in April 2011, led to Abdul’s death after he succumbed to stab wounds in a hospital.
Munyakho, who also sustained injuries during the altercation, was initially sentenced to five years in prison.
However, Abdul’s family successfully appealed to a Shariah court, which resulted in Munyakho’s death sentence.
For the past 13 years, Munyakho has been detained at Shimeisi Prison in Mecca. Under Saudi law, a convict’s family can negotiate “diya” or blood money, which serves as compensation for unintentional harm or death.
In Munyakho’s case, the victim’s family had agreed to accept 3.5 million Saudi Riyals (approximately Sh150 million) in exchange for his release.
Omar further urged Kenyans living abroad to respect the laws of their host countries to avoid such situations. “We warn Kenyans wherever they are to respect the laws of the territories they live in,” he said.
Munyakho’s execution was initially set for May 16, 2024, but Saudi authorities postponed it on May 13 to allow for further negotiations. With the payment now made, he is expected to return home soon.
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