Saved from the jaws of death: Munyakho's 13-year Saudi ordeal

For more than a decade, Stephen Munyakho, commonly known as Stevo, lived under the shadow of death in a Saudi Arabian prison, awaiting execution for the death of a colleague.

His fate seemed sealed until a last-minute intervention, one that took years of relentless campaigning, diplomacy, and an extraordinary act of generosity, which secured his life.

Munyakho, now 51, had left Kenya in his early 20s to work in Saudi Arabia, seeking better economic prospects.

His journey took a tragic turn in 2011 when he was convicted of manslaughter following a workplace altercation that ended in the death of a Yemeni colleague.

What began as a heated argument escalated, and in the struggle, the victim was fatally injured.

Initially sentenced to five years, his punishment was later upgraded to the death penalty upon appeal in 2014.

For his family, this ruling marked the beginning of an agonizing struggle to save him.

His mother, Dorothy Kweyu, a veteran journalist, fought tirelessly, appealing to the Kenyan government, human rights organizations, and well-wishers to raise the diyah, which is the blood money required under Sharia law for a pardon.

“One day I asked, ‘Is there a way they can execute me instead of my son?’ But I was rebuked and told to stop talking like that,” she said during an interview last year.

The required sum was $1 million (approximately Sh129 million).

Despite numerous appeals, public fundraising efforts had barely scratched the surface, raising about 15 per cent of the amount needed.

According to Kweyu, the breakthrough came when the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) took up Munyakho’s case.

After she personally visited their offices, Supkem began engaging key partners in Saudi Arabia.

“On August 13, 2024, Supkem hosted the top leadership of the Muslim World League in Nairobi where the parties signed various bilateral agreements and protocols. It was during that meeting that the Supkem leadership brought Steve’s case to the attention of the Secretary General of the Muslim World League, Dr Mohamed Abdul Karim Alissa and requested for his intervention to save our brother from execution,” Supkem Chairman Hassan Ole Naado said.

Ole Naado said Munyakho’s case was given special consideration, given that there was no premeditated intent to kill.

“It was observed that Steve never intended to kill the victim given that he and the victim were, in fact, good friends save for the very unfortunate fight that led to the victim’s death,” said Ole Naado.

Recognizing this, the Muslim World League decided to intervene, authorizing the payment of the full amount demanded by the family of the victim.

During an Iftar dinner at State House on Tuesday, Hassan Omar, the Secretary General of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, announced that Munyakho’s life had been spared.

“I take this opportunity to confirm that, indeed, the Muslim World League paid the one million dollars one month ago,” Ole Naado said.

Further, he added that the family of the victim had received the money, and Saudi authorities were now processing the release of Munyakho.

“On Wednesday this week, I was in communication with the office of the Secretary General of the World Muslim League as well with the Saudi Ambassador to Kenya and his Kenyan counterpart in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, both of whom assured me that the administrative procedures in Saudi Arabia are now underway to process Steve for release and, once those are done, our brother will, by the grace of Allah, be set free to come back home,” said Ole Naado.

The relief was overwhelming for Munyako’s mother. After 13 years of agonizing uncertainty, she could finally dream of embracing her son once more.

“I am grateful to everyone who has supported us in the journey, ranging from the media, Supkem, the ambassador, government and the Muslim World League,” said Kweyu.

Ole Naado, urged Kenyans who go for work abroad to always abide by the law.