Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan national who had been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for manslaughter, was on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, expected to land back home.

Munyaksjo was released on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, following sustained diplomatic efforts by the Kenyan government.

Munyakho’s death sentence, handed down last year, was deferred after the family of the deceased accepted diyya (blood money) amounting to approximately Ksh129 million, to pave the way for his release.

In July 2024, while addressing the Senate plenary, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, confirmed that the Ministry had intervened to stop the execution.

“I wish to state that a few weeks ago, I officially wrote to the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, intervening on behalf of Mr. Munyakho. The execution was deferred and did not take place,” Mudavadi said at the time.

Appeal for clemency

Immediately after the death sentence was pronounced, Mudavadi wrote to the Saudi Foreign Minister and appealed for clemency.

“This intervention led to a postponement of the execution, initially set for May 15, to allow negotiations over the blood money demanded by the deceased’s family. HE President Ruto also intervened by speaking directly with Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud, ruler of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, requesting a delay in the execution as Kenya pursued the matter diplomatically,” said Mudavadi.

Therefore, Munyakho’s release is the culmination of months of high-level diplomatic engagement between Nairobi and Riyadh, underscoring Kenya’s commitment to protecting the rights and dignity of its citizens abroad, the PCS said.

Upon his release, Munyakho was facilitated to perform Umrah (minor pilgrimage) at the request of the Kenyan Embassy to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, before being transferred from prison to a deportation centre.

“He has been moved from the prison to the deportation centre, awaiting clearance for immediate deportation,” said Mudavadi.

Cost of deportation

The Embassy prepared an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) for Munyakho, as his passport had expired during his incarceration.

The Saudi authorities have agreed to cover the full cost of his deportation.

“The Embassy is now awaiting confirmation of the date and time of his deportation flight, which could happen today. The government will communicate this as soon as we have the details,” Mudavadi added.

He further recounted that after the death sentence was pronounced, he wrote to the Saudi Foreign Minister and appealed for clemency.

At the time, Mudavadi met with Munyakho’s family in Kenya, who were struggling to raise the substantial compensation demanded.

The government worked to persuade the family of the deceased to lower the amount to enable a quicker resolution.

“We are happy that Munyakho will be back soon to reunite with his family,” said Mudavadi, commending the collaborative efforts that led to his release.

The Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding the rights and welfare of Kenyans abroad, and thanked the Saudi authorities for their cooperation in resolving the matter.

Munyakho had spent more than a decade in Saudi custody after being convicted over a fatal altercation with a colleague in 2011.

Death penalty

Initially charged with manslaughter, his sentence was later upgraded to murder, carrying the death penalty under Shariah law.

Earlier this year, the Muslim World League, with the support of the government and religious leaders, facilitated the payment of $1 million (approximately Ksh130 million) as diya (blood money) to the victim’s family.

The payment led to the commutation of his sentence and eventual release.

Munyakho’s mother, Dorothy Kweyu, a veteran journalist, has over the years fought tirelessly, appealing to the government, human rights organisations, and well-wishers to raise the diyah.

After she personally visited their offices, SUPKEM began engaging key partners in Saudi Arabia. SUPKEM Chairman Hassan Ole Naado said Munyakho’s case was given special consideration, given that there was no premeditated intent to kill.

“It was observed that Steve never intended to kill the victim, given that he and the victim were, in fact, good friends save for the very unfortunate fight that led to the victim’s death,” Ole Naado said.

Under Islamic law, diyah compensates a victim or their family. It can be paid for a variety of crimes, from murder to injury and damage to property. Diya can lead to a reduction in sentence and, in certain circumstances, a pardon.

It is currently applied in about 20 countries in the Middle East and Africa, including Sudan and northern Nigeria.

The Quran supports the paying of blood money and this was further clarified by the Prophet Muhammad, who explained in his teachings that the price for murder or manslaughter should be 100 camels.

Modern interpretations mean this amount differs in different countries, as diyah is now usually paid in cash.