Kenyan Man on Death Row in Saudi Arabia Released After 14 Years—Campaigners, Diplomats Hailed as Heroes

By Arch. Dr. D.K. Gitau | Diaspora Times, Atlanta

In a stunning development that brings a decade-long saga to an emotional close, Stephen Abdukareem Munyakho, a Kenyan citizen who had spent over 14 years on death row in Saudi Arabia, has been officially released, according to Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei.

Sing’oei confirmed the release via a brief message on X (formerly Twitter), citing a “judicial decree” but giving few additional details. What is clear, however, is that this was no ordinary diplomatic feat—it was the culmination of years of legal, humanitarian, and diplomatic negotiations, coupled with relentless advocacy led by his mother, Dorothy Kweyu, a veteran Kenyan journalist.

Kenyans first became aware of the full scope of the tragedy when Ms. Kweyu appeared on Citizen TV’s JKL Show last year, hosted by Jeff Koinange. In a deeply moving interview, she tearfully recounted the agony of watching her son waste away in prison as he awaited a death sentence in a foreign land. The segment quickly went viral, triggering national soul-searching and renewed focus on the plight of Kenyans in the Gulf region.

Kenyans Responded With Heart

And Kenyans listened. From business moguls to boda boda riders, ordinary citizens began contributing what they could—KES 100, 500, 1,000 at a time. Fundraisers were held in churches, WhatsApp groups, and diaspora gatherings around the world.

The needed amount was staggering: $1 million (approx. KES 130 million)—the price the Yemeni victim’s family demanded as “dihya”, or blood money, under Saudi Arabia’s Islamic law. But as the deadline loomed, the impossible became possible.

“I rolled on the floor,” Kweyu told Kenyan media after hearing the news, describing her raw relief after years of anguish and advocacy.

Munyakho, who had travelled to Saudi Arabia in his early 20s to seek work, was convicted in 2011 of murdering a Yemeni colleague. The incident, according to his mother, was a tragic altercation in which Munyakho acted in self-defense after being stabbed with a letter opener.

Initially sentenced to five years for manslaughter, a subsequent appeal in 2014 escalated the charge to murder, triggering the death penalty under Saudi Arabia’s strict Islamic laws. But under Sharia law, a death sentence can be commuted if the victim’s family accepts “dihya”—blood money paid in compensation for the loss of life.

Earlier this year, a reported $1 million settlement was paid to the Yemeni family, with funds raised primarily through donations from well-wishers, the Government of Kenya, and the Muslim World League, a global Islamic charity. That payment cleared the final legal hurdle to Munyakho’s release.

According to diplomatic sources, Munyakho has already performed Umrah, the minor Muslim pilgrimage to Mecca—a sign, perhaps, of his own personal renewal after years of confinement and near-execution.

A Moment of Gratitude, A Call for Institutional Reform

The Diaspora Times extends heartfelt congratulations and appreciation to all those who played a role in this deeply human story of justice and redemption:

• The Kenyan Foreign Ministry, especially PS Korir Sing’oei,
• The Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh,
• The Muslim World League, whose humanitarian intervention was pivotal,
• And most of all, Dorothy Kweyu, whose unyielding maternal love became the backbone of this campaign.

But while we celebrate, we must also question the systemic gaps that allowed this case to rest on the shoulders of a mother, embassy officials, and a few determined bureaucrats.

Where was the Ministry of Diaspora Affairs in all this?

Created with much fanfare, the Ministry has struggled to define its mandate. If it cannot spearhead efforts in crisis diplomacy, legal aid, and protection of Kenyans abroad, what is its purpose?

Munyakho’s case was not the only one. Kenyans across the Gulf face arrests, abuse, unjust detention, and worse. These issues must not be left to consulates alone. A centralized Diaspora Rescue Task Force, well-funded and legally empowered, should now be a matter of urgency.

Homecoming Awaited

At the time of publication, Munyakho’s return date to Kenya remains unclear. But his release signals more than just the end of personal suffering—it is a testament to the power of advocacy, well-wishers’ humanitarian gesture, international cooperation, and unrelenting faith.

Let this moment not be wasted. Let it redefine how we protect our own—wherever they may be in the world.

If you have family members facing legal troubles abroad, contact The Diaspora Times confidentially at editor@diasporatimes.org.

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