The Kenyan government has announced that it will offer a progress report in the coming days regarding the case of Stephen Munyakho, who is facing the death penalty in Saudi Arabia for the 2011 murder of a Yemeni man. In a statement shared via X (formerly Twitter), Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei assured the public that the government is actively working on the case and will provide further details soon.
Munyakho, a Kenyan national, has been incarcerated in Saudi Arabia for over 13 years. His death sentence was initially scheduled for November 26, 2024, but was postponed after the Kenyan government reached out to Saudi authorities to request consultations and a possible reprieve. This recent delay has sparked hope among Munyakho’s family and supporters, as they continue to pursue a resolution that could potentially lead to a pardon.
The key to Munyakho’s freedom lies in securing a pardon from the victim’s family. The Kenyan family has been urged to raise Ksh 150 million, a sum that would reportedly go towards negotiations with the victim’s family for forgiveness. However, as of July 2024, the family had only managed to raise Ksh 11 million through public appeals. Despite this significant gap, the family remains determined and continues to appeal for donations to help cover the necessary amount.
Munyakho’s mother, Dorothy Kweyu, a respected journalist, spoke about her son’s ongoing remorse for the crime. During a recent interview with Citizen TV, she expressed that Munyakho has shown genuine sorrow for his actions and continues to plead for forgiveness from the victim’s family. The veteran journalist emphasized that her son is deeply remorseful for the pain his actions have caused and is committed to making amends.
This case has attracted significant attention both locally and internationally, with many Kenyans rallying behind Munyakho’s family in their efforts to raise the required funds. The government’s upcoming progress report will likely offer more insight into the diplomatic efforts underway to secure a final resolution. The hope is that continued negotiations will lead to a successful plea for pardon and the safe return of Stephen Munyakho to Kenya.
