In a matter of hours, a family in Murang’a could be forced to endure the most unimaginable pain the loss of their daughter, Margaret Nduta, to Vietnam’s unforgiving legal system. Convicted of drug trafficking, Nduta faces execution after being caught with two kilograms of cocaine at Ho Chi Minh City Airport in July 2023.
Despite her claims of innocence, stating she unknowingly carried the contraband for a man identified only as John, Vietnam’s rigid drug laws left no room for leniency. On March 6, 2025, she was sentenced to death, triggering a wave of reactions across Kenya, from government officials to social media activists, all desperate to intervene before time runs out.
Her family, devastated and pleading for diplomatic intervention, has argued for her extradition to serve a Kenyan prison sentence. However, Vietnam’s stringent policies and lack of bilateral agreements with Kenya complicate the matter. Kenya does not have an embassy in Vietnam, and diplomatic efforts are being conducted through its embassy in Thailand.
Kenyan lawmakers have taken note, with nominated MP Sabina Chege calling for urgent action. Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula directed the Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee to engage the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Even if we are on recess, committees are still working,” Wetang’ula stated, emphasizing the need for immediate diplomatic engagement.
Despite these efforts, Vietnam remains unmoved. The country, known for its tough stance on drug-related crimes, has consistently enforced the death penalty for offenders caught with significant drug quantities. For context, possession of over 600 grams of heroin or cocaine in Vietnam carries a mandatory death sentence Nduta had two kilograms.
As Nduta’s fate teeters on the edge, Kenyans remain divided. Some argue for her repatriation, while others acknowledge that sovereignty dictates adherence to each nation’s legal framework. Politicians, including MPs Babu Owino and Njoroge Kururia, have voiced their concerns, but Vietnam appears resolute in its decision.
With time slipping away, Nduta’s fate remains uncertain. Will Kenya’s frantic diplomacy succeed, or will she succumb to the harsh reality of Vietnamese law? Only time will tell.
