SING’OEI: Kenyan Stephen Munyakho Freed From Saudi Death Row
Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan national facing execution in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is finally set to return home after the government and other stakeholders successfully negotiated his release.
Munyakho, who has been imprisoned since 2012, was ordered to raise Ksh150 million in diyya (blood money) to compensate the family of his alleged murder victim, a Yemeni national.
Failure to raise the funds would have led to his execution. Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Kipkorir Sing’Oei confirmed the development in a statement released on Tuesday.
He revealed that Munyakho had been released after paying the court-ordered compensation.
Steve Abdukareem Munyakho, the Kenyan national who has been on death row in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is free as at 10 am today pursuant to the full satisfaction of judicial decree. Our Mission in Riyadh has confirmed that Steve performed his Umra (minor pilgrimage) upon…
— Korir Sing'Oei (@SingoeiAKorir) July 22, 2025
“Steve Abdukareem Munyakho, the Kenyan national who has been on death row in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is free as of 10 am today pursuant to the full satisfaction of judicial decree,” Sing’Oei stated.
However, Sing’Oei stated that the government would provide further information about his arrival in the country at a later date.
Despite the fact that it is unclear whether the release occurred after the blood money was settled or as a result of ongoing diplomatic intervention.
“Our Mission in Riyadh has confirmed that Steve performed his Umra (minor pilgrimage) upon release,” he added.
“We shall provide further details regarding his arrival in the country. I commend all who have offered their support towards securing this outcome.”
Munyakho’s release was made possible by contributions from well-wishers, faith-based organisations, and government interventions over a number of years.
His return to Kenya might be viewed as a triumph for diplomacy and organized humanitarian action, which the government has pursued over the last seven years.
In March of this year, United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary-General Hassan Omar revealed that the Muslim World League had stepped in and paid the necessary fines for Munyakho’s release.
According to Omar, Munyakho was set to reunite with his family following successful negotiations involving Kenya, Saudi Arabia, and the Muslim World League.
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He was speaking at an Iftar event hosted by President William Ruto at State House on March 26th.
According to Omar, the negotiations, which included officials from both countries, culminated in a total payment of KSh 129.5 million ($1 million) to the Gulf nation as a settlement for Munyakho’s charges.
During the announcement, Omar revealed that diplomatic efforts to save Munyakho were coordinated at Nairobi’s State House, implying that President Ruto may have been involved.
His case received national attention after his mother, veteran journalist Dorothy Kweyu, petitioned the Kenyan government to intervene and save her son from execution.
SING’OEI: Kenyan Stephen Munyakho Freed From Saudi Death Row
