State asks Kenyans to contribute Sh150m and save man facing execution in Saudi

Bring Back Stevo Campaign Committee members led by Dorothy Kweyu Musopole, Chairman Joseph Odindo and Cyprian Amakalu addressing the media at Sarova Pan Afric Hotel, Nairobi on May 8, 2024. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

Mudavadi said although the family has started initiatives towards raising the said amount, they had appealed to the government to urgently intervene and save Munyakho from the hangman.

"All I can say is that as a government we will do our best in different capacities to call for public appeals to support so that much resource is raised to save Munyakho," he said.

Last week while acknowledging the efforts of the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs and the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, Munyakho's family pleaded with the government to intervene.

Munyakho's mother, veteran journalist Dorothy Kweyu, appealed to the government to negotiate for an extension of the deadline to allow them to secure his release from prison. Ms Kweyu also pleaded with Kenyans of goodwill to help her family raise the funds to have her son who has been in jail for 13 years, released.

"We are here to make an urgent appeal to Kenyans of goodwill to help us raise 3.5 million Saudi Riyals (approximately Sh150 million)," she said.

She revealed that the execution was to happen in 2014 but was postponed until one of Abdul's five children who was only 5, reaches maturity age since they all have to consent to that form of justice.

This means the youngest child may celebrate his 18th birthday this month by either consenting to have Munyakho executed or agree to extension of the deadline to allow the estranged family to raise the required funds.

So far, Kweyu said they have raised Sh5.5 million, which is "way short of the target." To bridge the huge deficit, the family has organised a funds drive this Sunday.

They have also appealed to well-wishers to contribute virtually through Paybill No. 8056675 with your name as Account Number or via MPESA to [phone] (Dorothy Musopole).