Margaret Nduta's death sentence reduced to life imprisonment in Vietnam

Margaret Nduta was sentenced to death in March after she was arrested on arrival in Vietnam with two kilos of narcotics. [Courtesy]

Kenya's foreign affairs authorities have announced that the death sentence handed to Kenyan national Margaret Nduta Macharia in Vietnam has been commuted to life imprisonment, a significant reprieve for her and her family.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei told The Standard that the Vietnamese Supreme Court, sitting in Ho Chi Minh City, reduced her sentence following sustained diplomatic intervention by Kenya.

"The Kenyan government has been working round the clock on this issue, and even with this development, we are still exploring diplomatic avenues to secure her release," he said.

Nduta, 37, was sentenced to death in March after she was arrested on arrival in Vietnam with two kilos of narcotics. Her case sparked a public outcry in Kenya, with many calling for government intervention. She had just arrived on a delayed connecting flight when the arrest took place and later filed an appeal.

"This is a major reprieve for Nduta and her family. She now has a chance to live and could still stand a chance for clemency from the Vietnamese President," a source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs told The Standard.

Her legal team is believed to have cited recent amendments to Vietnam's penal code, which exempt certain drug trafficking offences from the automatic death penalty, a factor that may have influenced the court's decision.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, more than 1,000 Kenyans are currently imprisoned in foreign countries, though the actual number could be higher as many cases go unreported.

Back in March, amid rising public pressure and anxiety over her impending execution, PS Sing'oei said he contacted Vietnamese authorities to request a stay of execution and open the door for diplomatic negotiations.

Concerned Kenyans had also petitioned the government to intervene and push for Nduta's repatriation so she could face trial under Kenyan law.