Sally Njoroge still remembers the last time she saw her close friend Margaret Nduta.
The memory is fresh, etched in her mind like it was just yesterday.
"She was full of life, excited, and optimistic," Sally recalls in an exclusive interview with TNX Africa.
Sally added: "She truly believed this trip would change her life and that of her family. I straightened her hair before she left, as you can see in the photos."
That was the last time Sally saw Nduta before she left for what was supposed to be a promising opportunity abroad, only to end up arrested in Vietnam on drug trafficking charges.
According to Sally, there was no indication that Nduta was involved in anything illegal.
"I learned about her arrest from social media," she says. "She never spoke of any drugs, a suitcase, or meeting anyone along the way. To me, she was just a good girl chasing a better life."
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Their friendship spanned over 15 years, dating back to their days in Ruai. A strong bond formed between them, and later, they discovered they hailed from the same village, Weithaga in Kiharu, Murang’a County, making their connection even deeper.
Nduta had never shown much interest in traveling abroad. It was her first time flying out, an attempt to escape the cycle of odd jobs and unemployment.
What makes her case even more heartbreaking is the distress of her identical twin, Rosemary Wambui.
“They were inseparable. They lived together, and this was their first time being apart,” Sally revealed.
“Since the news broke, Wambui has been fighting tooth and nail to help her sister. She’s been called to different offices, seeking any possible way out.”
The situation has left their family shaken. Their father had passed away before Nduta’s departure, leaving the burden on their mother and siblings.
Nduta was never flashy, never one to seek attention. She had never been linked to drugs or any criminal activity.
"She was calm and loving," Sally insists. "She loved eating mutura, listening to Mugithi music, and was a staunch Christian at ACK Ruai."
Sally is also quick to dismiss the speculation and negativity spreading online.
"Most of these people don’t even know her. The things being said about her are unfair. No one understands what she’s going through. We just hope she comes back home."
Nduta’s nightmare began when she was caught with over two kilograms of cocaine at Ho Chi Minh City airport in Vietnam while in transit to Laos in July 2023. The verdict? A death sentence.
However, the Kenyan government has stepped in, with PS Korir Sing’oei assuring the public that efforts are underway to halt the execution.
The Vietnamese authorities are reviewing Kenya’s petition, and the Kenyan Mission in Bangkok is closely following up on the case.
As Nduta’s fate hangs in the balance, her family and friends can only cling to hope, and wait.
