SUPKEM confirms payment of Sh129m settlement for release of Stephen Munyakho from Saudi jail

The release of Kenyan national Stephen Munyakho, who has been in a Saudi Arabian prison for 13 years following a manslaughter conviction, is now being processed after the victim’s family received the $1 million(Sh129.5 million) blood money required for his freedom.

The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) National Chairman, Al-Haji Hassan Ole Naado, has confirmed that the amount was paid by the Muslim World League, a move that saved Munyakho from execution.

In a statement released on Friday, Hassan explained how the Muslim World League became involved in the matter.

He revealed that the Muslim World League made the payment a month ago, following sustained efforts by SUPKEM and other partners.

“When Steve’s mother made a public appeal last year and visited our offices, we took up the matter and began engaging several partners in Saudi Arabia,” he explained.

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.

According to Hassan, because Munyakho and the victim were friends before the tragic altercation that led to the fatality, the matter was given priority within the Muslim World League.

“Since I sit in the Supreme Council of the Muslim World League, the case was made an important agenda item,” he explained, adding that the organisation recognised that Munyakho never intended to kill the victim.

This recognition led to the decision to authorise the $1 million (Sh129.5 million) payment demanded by the victim’s family, ensuring that Munyakho would be spared from execution.

Hassan further confirmed that the family of the deceased has already received the money, and the Saudi Arabian authorities are now working on the necessary administrative processes for Munyakho’s release.

Direct communication

He shared that he has been in direct communication with the office of the Secretary General of the Muslim World League, the Saudi Ambassador to Kenya, and Kenya’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, all of whom have assured him that the procedures are underway.

“Once these administrative procedures are completed, our brother will, by the Grace of Allah, be set free and allowed to return home,” Naado said.

The SUPKEM leader went on to extend gratitude to several individuals and institutions that played key roles in securing Munyakho’s release.

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These included Munyakho’s mother, Dorothy Kweyu, for her unwavering fight, his family for enduring the difficult 13-year period and Dr. Alissa for taking a personal interest in the case.

Hassan also acknowledged Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Kenya, Khalid Alsalman, for facilitating diplomatic efforts, as well as Kenya’s former and current ambassadors to Saudi Arabia, Peter Ogego and Mohamed Ramadhan Ruwange, for their support.

Additionally, he commended Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei, for their involvement in the process.

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary-General Hassan Omar on Tuesday had first made the announcement at an Iftar dinner at State House, Nairobi on Tuesday night.

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.