Stephen Munyakho, Kenyan man on death row in Saudi Arabia, freed- PS Sing’Oei
In a statement released on, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei confirmed that Munyakho was released at 10 am and is no longer on death row.
Stephen Abdukareem Munyakho, the Kenyan man who had been facing a death sentence in Saudi Arabia, is finally free after satisfying all the conditions set by the kingdom’s judicial system.
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In a statement released on Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei confirmed that Munyakho was released at 10 am and is no longer on death row.
The Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh, which has been monitoring the case, also confirmed that Munyakho performed his Umra (minor pilgrimage) shortly after his release.
“Munyakho, the Kenyan national who has been on death row in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is free as of 10 am today pursuant to the full satisfaction of judicial decree,” Sing’Oei said.
“We shall provide further details regarding his arrival in the country. I commend all who have offered their support towards securing this outcome,” he added.
The government is expected to share more information soon regarding Munyakho’s return to Kenya.
Munyakho was convicted of manslaughter in 2013 following the death of Yemeni national Abdul Halim Mujahid Makrad Saleh.
The incident, which occurred in April 2011, resulted in Abdul succumbing to stab wounds sustained during an altercation.
Munyakho was initially sentenced to five years in prison, but the victim’s family successfully appealed, leading to an enhanced sentence of execution with an option to pay 3.5 million Saudi riyals (Sh120.9 million) in blood money.
Munyakho has spent the past 13 years behind bars, being held at both Dhaban Prison in Jeddah and Shimeisi Prison in Mecca. Under Saudi law, families of victims can negotiate “diya,” or blood money, as compensation for unintentional harm or death.
In March, the process of releasing Munyakho, started after the victim’s family received the $1 million(Sh129.5 million) blood money required for his freedom.
This was after the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) National Chairman, Al-Haji Hassan Ole Naado, confirmed that the amount was paid by the Muslim World League, a move that saved Munyakho from execution.
The Muslim World League made the payment a month earlier, following sustained efforts by SUPKEM and other partners.
The case gained traction after SUPKEM hosted the top leadership of the Muslim World League in Nairobi on August 13, 2024.
During this meeting, the organisation’s Secretary General, Dr. Mohamed AbdulKarim Alissa, was informed of Munyakho’s case and was urged to intervene.
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