The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem) has confirmed the payment of Sh129 million to Saudi Arabian authorities for the release of Stephen Munyakho, also known as Abdulkarim. Supkem National Chairman Hassan Ole Naado stated that the amount, equivalent to one million US dollars, was paid a month ago.
“I take this opportunity to confirm that, indeed, the Muslim World League, of which Supkem is a member, paid the said one million dollars one month ago,” said Ole Naado.
This development comes amid concerns from Munyakho’s family, who had not yet received any formal communication about the payment. The family, through their spokesman, acknowledged the report but expressed caution, stating that they were in contact with Kenyan and Saudi Arabian government officials for confirmation.
Munyakho, 50, was a warehouse manager in Saudi Arabia when he got into a fight with his colleague Abdul Halim Mujahid Makrad Saleh on April 9, 2011. Saleh, who suffered stab wounds to his left thigh and thumb, walked himself to a hospital but later succumbed to his injuries. In October 2011, a Saudi court convicted Munyakho of manslaughter, a verdict that was later overturned by a Shariah court in June 2014, upgrading it to murder. Since then, Munyakho has been incarcerated in various Saudi prisons, facing a possible death sentence.
Supkem played a pivotal role in advocating for Munyakho’s release. In August, the council hosted top leaders of the Muslim World League in Nairobi and presented his case to Secretary General Dr. Mohamed Abdul Karim Alissa. It was determined that Munyakho did not intend to kill Saleh, as they were friends before the unfortunate altercation. The league then authorized the payment of the compensation demanded by the victim’s family to prevent Munyakho’s execution.
Ole Naado confirmed that the victim’s family has received the payment, and Saudi authorities are now processing Munyakho’s release. He assured that discussions with Kenyan and Saudi officials are ongoing, and once administrative procedures are complete, Munyakho will return home.
By the grace of Allah, Munyakho’s decade-long ordeal may soon come to an end.
