The family of a Kenyan man convicted in the killing of another migrant in Saudi Arabia is relieved but still concerned after his planned execution was put off for the second time to allow more time to raise the required “blood money”.
Stephen Munyakho, 50, was working in the kingdom when he was involved in a fight in April 2011 with a Yemeni man, Abdul Halim Mujahid Makrad Saleh, who later succumbed to his injuries. Munyakho, a son of veteran journalist Dorothy Musopole, has spent 13 years in different Saudi prisons and was originally due to be executed on Wednesday, May 15.
Saudi authorities agreed to delay Munyakho’s execution pending further negotiations, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei said at the time.
In a tweet yesterday, Sing’oei announced that the government was working to resolve the issue.
“I wish to notify the public that we continue to actively search for the resolution of the outstanding and complex matter regarding Stephen Munyakho,” part of his tweet read.
“Following our intervention, the deadline for the collection of compensation has been extended by four months from July 26 to November 26, this year.”
The Foreign Affairs ministry is working with Munyakho’s family and will consolidate fundraising efforts in the week beginning July 8 to assess the progress made.
He added that the government was using all available diplomatic channels to ensure Munyakho returns home to his family.
Reacting to the news, a spokesman for the family said they were relieved but still concerned. “We welcome the extension, but we remain gravely concerned about the huge shortfall in the money required,” said Joe Odindo, the chairman of the steering committee raising funds for Munyakho’s return.
“We earnestly urge Kenyans to continue contributing to our kitty as strive to raise the blood money for the affected family of the Yemeni man.”
Munyakho’s family has been working to raise the required blood money of Sh120 million 3.5 million Saudi riyals to secure his freedom under the Islamic legal system or Sharia.
With the help of a company, Munyakho migrated to Saudi Arabia as a labourer aged 22 and later acquired residence.
He was initially convicted of manslaughter and handed a five-year jail term on April 9, 2011 after a six-month trial.
However, Saleh’s family appealed the verdict, and in June 2014, the sentence was revised to death.