"I lacked patience": Stephen Munyakho regrets fatal altercation in Saudi Arabia that changed his life

Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan citizen who spent 14 years on death row in Saudi Arabia, has regretted that he lacked patience during a fatal altercation that drastically changed the course of his life.

Munyakho, while recounting the 2011 incident, insisted lack of patience contributed to the tragic outcome that claimed the life of his colleague.

Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV on Wednesday, Munyakho regretted that the death of his Yemeni colleague, Abdul Halim, was not intentional, describing it as a misunderstanding that spiralled out of control.

“This tragedy that happened was something that I cannot even tell how it came about. Abdul Halim was a good friend of mine, and we used to work together. Whatever transpired thereafter is something that hurt me so much because I never thought somebody could die from my hands,” he said.

According to Munyakho, the two were co-workers in a restaurant where he worked as a warehouse manager, while Abdul Halim handled petty cash in the accounts department. Munyakho described their relationship as close, even referring to Abdul’s family with fondness.

“We were very good colleagues and we related well. He had two wives. His first wife was a Thai national, and they had a daughter, Susan. I used to hold her in my hands,” he said.

Munyakho said the misunderstanding that led to the fight arose over salary collection. He claimed Abdul was unwilling to let him leave and provoked him with harsh words.

“I was supposed to go collect my salary, but he wasn’t willing to let me go,” he said.

“He used words that were not very good, and I couldn’t take them.”

He said the confrontation quickly escalated into a physical fight, his first ever.

“It was my first ever fight in life. I’ve never been known to be a fighter. My mother can even testify to that. I’ve always been known to be a peacemaker,” he said.

According to Munyakho, Abdul had a knife in the office, which he often used to open cartons. A security officer at their workplace, he said, had seen Abdul with it on several occasions.

“He used it on me first. I was stabbed in the hand and thigh. After that, I used the same knife on him. He sustained only one stab wound,” he said.

Munyakho stressed that Abdul’s death was not from the stabbing itself, but from delayed medical attention.

“The doctor’s report said the main cause of death was that he lost a lot of blood because he delayed going to the hospital. It was just a mistake. I didn’t intend for it to happen,” he said.

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The incident occurred on the night of April 9, 2011, exactly 16 years after Munyakho had first travelled to Saudi Arabia in 1996 on a valid working visa to take up a job in computing at a restaurant.

“I got a visa and went through the Ministry of Labour. At the time, nothing was like what we’re seeing today with people being duped by agents. Mine followed the correct procedures,” he said.

Munyakho warned that many Kenyans fall prey to fake recruitment agencies because they bypass official channels.

“There are genuine agencies and those that are just in it by name. Once someone takes the first flight out, the agent’s phone goes off. If you didn’t pass through the Ministry of Labour, even the embassy won’t know where you are,” he noted.

He said those who follow proper procedures are registered and can access support from the embassy.

Munyakho, who had studied computer packages after high school, said he met all the job requirements when he left for Saudi Arabia. He maintained that he never imagined that the confrontation would lead to a death.

“I hadn’t done in-depth studies, but I had done the necessary computer packages that the job required. Even when they told me Abdul had passed on, I could not believe it. I was shocked,” he said.

He added that he, too, nearly died from excessive bleeding and had to be rushed to the hospital.

"The distance from the accommodation to the hospital was about seven minutes. But at that time, I took two pints of glucose. The doctor said if I had delayed a little longer, I wouldn’t be alive today,” he said.

Abdul had reportedly stabbed Munyakho twice before the latter responded with a single stab wound.

Munyakho was later arrested, charged and sentenced to death by a Saudi court. He spent 14 years on death row before being released recently.