Kenyan on death row in Saudi Arabia freed

Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan man on death row in Saudi Arabia for over 10 years, freed. [Standard]

Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan man on death row in Saudi Arabia for over 10 years, has been freed.

Munyakho, who was convicted of manslaughter, was officially released on Tuesday, July 22, at 10:00 am, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Sing'oei confirmed.

"Steve Abdukareem 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," said Sing'oei in a post on X.

According to the PS, his release follows the satisfaction of a judicial decree issued under Saudi law. Logistics for his return to Kenya are currently underway.

Munyakho, a former warehouse manager, had been convicted in relation to the death of his Yemeni colleague, Abdul Halim Mujahid, during an altercation at the workplace in 2011.

Though initially sentenced to five years for manslaughter, the verdict was upgraded to capital punishment in 2014 after the victim's family appealed, invoking Saudi Arabia's Sharia law provisions.

His release followed multiple diplomatic negotiations, and religious mediation.

His mother, Dorothy Kweyu, a veteran journalist, fought tirelessly, appealing to the Kenyan government, human rights organisations, and well-wishers to raise the Riyadh.

The blood money settlement, (diya) totaling Sh129.5 million was paid to the victim's family through the Muslim World League (MWL).

The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) played a pivotal role in mobilising support and facilitating the process.