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Stevo's family holds breath as UDA leader says millions paid to Saudi executioner
Stephen Munyakho with his brother, Cyprian (left) during annual leave from his work station in Saudi Arabia, with their mother, Dorothy Kweyu.
Kenyan citizen Stephen Bertrand Munyakho, who is facing a death sentence in Saudi Arabia, will reportedly return home safely following the intervention of the Muslim World League.
United Democratic Alliance (UDA) secretary-general Hassan Omar said on Tuesday night that the Kenyan government, through President William Ruto and the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem), had sought the assistance of Muslim World League Secretary-General Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Issa, who visited the country last year.
“We brought the secretary-general here and requested his intervention in the case of a Kenyan who was facing the death penalty for murder,” Mr Omar said at State House in Nairobi during Iftar, an evening meal for Muslims to break their fast during the holy month of Ramadhan.
He went on to say that the Kenyan ambassador to Saudi Arabia had confirmed that the request had been granted and that a payment of Sh129.5 million ($1 million) had been made to secure Munyakho's release.
However, the Committee for Munyakho's Release told the Nation on Wednesday that it had yet to receive official confirmation of the development.
“The committee… is aware of media reports and pronouncements that one of the institutional benefactors, one of the many we had reached out to, has paid the balance of the 3.5 million Saudi riyals blood money set by the court as a condition for his release,” the committee said in a statement.
“If accurate, this information will be an answered prayer for the many well-wishers supporting the Save Stevo Campaign. However, we have yet to receive an official communication as a committee. We have contacted government officials in Kenya and Saudi Arabia and will notify the public of the latest developments.”
Munyakho was convicted of manslaughter in 2012 following a fatal altercation with a friend. The victim's family appealed, resulting in an enhanced sentence of execution with an option for 3.5 million riyals in blood money.
He has been in prison for 13 years and, according to the committee, was "still being held in Dhaban Prison, Jeddah" on Wednesday.
During the State House dinner, Mr Omar cautioned Kenyans living abroad to respect the laws of their host countries, stressing that while the Kenyan government can intervene in such cases, its ability to do so is limited.
“I want to tell Kenyans, whether in Vietnam, Malaysia, South Africa, or Saudi Arabia, to respect the laws of their respective countries. The Government of Kenya can intervene, but there are limitations,” he said.
Munyakho was due to be executed on May 15, 2024, after spending 13 years in various Saudi prisons.
However, the Saudi government agreed to postpone the sentence on May 13, 2024, following negotiations between all parties.
His case has attracted considerable attention, with many calling for clemency.
