Steve Munyakho: Kenyan man freed from death row in Saudi Arabia after 13 years

Steve Munyakho: Kenyan man freed from death row in Saudi Arabia after 13 years [Courtesy] Steve Munyakho, a Kenyan national who had been on death row in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, has been released after more than a decade in custody. Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei confirmed the development in a post on X. "Our Mission in Riyadh has confirmed that Steve performed his Umra (minor pilgrimage) upon release. We shall provide further details regarding his arrival in the country. I commend all who have offered their support towards securing this outcome," he said. According to Sing'oei, Munyakho's release followed the full satisfaction of a judicial decree. Munyakho had been imprisoned since 2011 after being convicted of a fatal altercation with a colleague. Steve Abdukareem Munyakho, the Kenyan national who has been on death row in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is free as at 10 am today pursuant to the full satisfaction of judicial decree. Our Mission in Riyadh has confirmed that Steve performed his Umra (minor pilgrimage) upon... - Korir Sing'Oei (@SingoeiAKorir) July 22, 2025 Initially charged with manslaughter, the offence was later upgraded to murder, which carries the death penalty under Shariah law. Earlier this year, the Muslim World League, with support from the government and religious leaders, facilitated the payment of $1 million (approximately Sh130 million) in diya (blood money) to the victim's family. The payment resulted in the commutation of Munyakho's sentence and his eventual release. His mother, Dorothy Kweyu, a veteran journalist, has for years campaigned tirelessly for his freedom, appealing to the government, human rights organisations, and well-wishers to help raise the diya. In a past interview with The Standard, Kweyu had recounted the emotional toll of the experience. "To say that the last 13 years have been traumatic is an understatement. There were nights he would call at 4am and say, Leo tuko kwa giza (Tonight, we are in darkness). At first, I thought he meant a blackout, but he explained that it meant someone had been executed. That was terrifying, knowing that one day, giza might be on him," she shared. "It was a period of extreme tension for me. I lost weight; food would get stuck in my throat. It was unbearable. Everyone noticed. I only ate the bare minimum to survive," Kweyu reflected.

Steve Munyakho: Kenyan man freed from death row in Saudi Arabia after 13 years

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Related Topics

Similar Articles

Latest Stories

The Standard Insider

Digger Classified

GET OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH US

FOR THE LATEST JOB ADVERTS

Similar Articles

How Sh27.8b project is revamping informal settlements in urban areas

Equity Q1 net profit up 24pc to Sh18.3b on regional units

KCB Q1 net earnings hit Sh17.8b to join rivals in defying tough times

Centum Re begins handover of 400 apartments at Nairobi's Two Rivers

DIGGER JOBS

Digger Motors

Digger Real Estate

Steve Munyakho: Kenyan man freed from death row in Saudi Arabia after 13 years

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Related Topics

Similar Articles

Latest Stories

The Standard Insider

Digger Classified

GET OUR NEWSLETTER

CONNECT WITH US

FOR THE LATEST JOB ADVERTS