A Life-Saving Intervention
Nairobi, kenya- A Kenyan man facing execution in Saudi Arabia is finally set to return home after a long and nerve-wracking 13-year ordeal.
Stephen Munyakho, a 50-year-old former warehouse manager, had been sentenced to death for murder.
However, thanks to a direct intervention by President William Ruto, a Sh129.5 million ($1 million) fine was cleared, ensuring his safe return.
Stephen Munyakho, who was on death row in Saudi Arabia, set to return home after the Muslim World League intervened and paid the $1 million (Sh129.5 million) settlement, UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar says during an Iftar at State House, Nairobi.
United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Hassan Omar confirmed the breakthrough during the State Iftar dinner at State House Nairobi.
The fine was paid by the Muslim World League, following diplomatic negotiations between the Kenyan and Saudi Arabian governments.
“The President made a passionate request regarding a Kenyan who was facing death by beheading. The Saudi Arabian ambassador to Kenya and Kenya’s ambassador in Saudi Arabia have confirmed that the request has been honored,” Omar stated.
Kenyan Man Escapes Death Row in Saudi ArabiaStephen Munyakho, who was on death row in Saudi Arabia, set to return home after the Muslim World League intervened and paid the $1 million (Sh129.5 million) settlement.Munyakho was working in Saudi Arabia as a warehouse manager and
From Workplace Dispute to Death Row
Munyakho’s nightmare began on April 9, 2011, after a fight with his colleague, Abdul Halim Mujahid Makrad Saleh, turned deadly.
Saleh sustained stab wounds to his left thigh and thumb but managed to walk to a hospital—where he later succumbed to his injuries.
Initially convicted of manslaughter in October 2011, Munyakho’s sentence was later escalated to murder by a Shariah court in June 2014.
Under Saudi law, the case required the consent of the victim’s family to carry out the execution.
However, the process was stalled as one of Saleh’s sons was still a minor at the time, delaying the final ruling.
As per Sharia law, Munyakho was a candidate for public execution by beheading with a sword, a punishment that has long drawn international scrutiny.
His execution was originally scheduled for May 13, 2024, but diplomatic negotiations secured an extension.
Stephen Munyakho, who was set for execution in Saudi Arabia to return home after Sh129 million fine was cleared, UDA SG Hassan Omar says
The Cost of Freedom
For years, efforts to secure Munyakho’s release hit financial roadblocks.
In 2019, the victim’s Yemeni family agreed to accept blood money (diya)—a provision under Sharia law that allows a convicted murderer to avoid execution by compensating the victim’s family.
Initially set at a staggering Sh352.2 million (10 million riyals), negotiations slashed the amount to 3.5 million riyals (Sh129.5 million) by November 2023.
With the funds now secured and the fine paid in full, Munyakho will finally be heading home.
His case highlights the complexities of Sharia-based justice systems and the power of diplomatic intervention in life-or-death situations.
Munyakho’s return marks the end of a harrowing chapter but raises broader questions about the safety and legal protections of Kenyan workers abroad.
With thousands of Kenyans working in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East, cases of labor exploitation and legal challenges remain a pressing issue.
For now, Munyakho’s family awaits his return—a moment they likely feared might never come.
