Stephen Munyakho, the Kenyan who spent 13 years on death row in a Saudi Arabian prison, has broken his silence after returning home, declaring he had fully accepted his fate as God’s will. “I believe my going there had already been written by God,” Munyakho stated, reflecting on an ordeal that saw him narrowly escape execution twice.

His return to Kenyan soil, secured by a dramatic, last-minute payment of blood money, casts a harsh spotlight on the perilous conditions facing many Kenyan workers in the Gulf. It is a story of a family’s unwavering fight, a nation’s generosity, and the high-stakes diplomacy required to navigate a foreign justice system.

A Fight, A Fatal Mistake

The tragedy unfolded in April 2011 from a workplace salary disagreement that spiralled out of control. Munyakho recounted that his Yemeni colleague, Abdi Halim, was a good friend, and the confrontation was never meant to be fatal. He alleged the colleague attacked him first with a letter opener, and in the ensuing struggle, he retaliated with the same weapon.

“I never ever thought someone could die in my hands,” Munyakho explained, insisting the stabbing was not intentional. He maintains that the ultimate cause of death was delayed medical attention which led to fatal blood loss.

The Long Road From Death Row

Initially, the Saudi courts convicted Munyakho of manslaughter, handing him a five-year sentence. However, the victim’s family appealed the verdict. In 2014, the charge was devastatingly upgraded to murder, and the sentence to death by execution. That ruling began a decade of uncertainty, with Munyakho’s life hanging in the balance as his execution date was repeatedly scheduled and postponed.

Under Islamic law as practiced in Saudi Arabia, a victim's family can forgive a killer in exchange for financial compensation, known as 'diyya' or blood money. This became the only viable path to save Munyakho’s life, triggering a desperate, years-long campaign led by his mother, the veteran journalist Dorothy Kweyu.

A Nation's Plea, A Diplomatic Push

The effort to free Stephen Munyakho was a monumental undertaking that stretched from grassroots fundraising in Kenya to the highest levels of international diplomacy. The key elements that secured his freedom include:

• A Mother's Campaign: Dorothy Kweyu led a tireless public campaign, never losing hope over the 13-year ordeal.
• Public Fundraising: A campaign, #LetsBringBackStevo, was launched, raising KES 20 million from Kenyans touched by his plight.
• International Support: The Muslim World League, a prominent Islamic charity, stepped in to pay the lion's share of the required $1 million (approx. KES 134 million) settlement.
• Government Intervention: The Kenyan government, through Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei and President William Ruto, engaged in intense diplomatic negotiations to stay the execution and facilitate the payment.

Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing'oei confirmed Munyakho was finally freed on July 22, 2025, pursuant to the “full satisfaction of judicial decree.”

A Wider Struggle

Munyakho’s case, while exceptional in its outcome, is not unique in its origins. His story resonates deeply in a country where thousands of citizens work in the Gulf states, often in vulnerable positions. Speaking after Munyakho's return, Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki warned that many other Kenyans face severe hardships abroad, including wrongful imprisonment and exploitation. “Many Kenyans go abroad seeking greener pastures, only for it to turn into bitter herbs,” Faki noted.

The case also surfaces as Kenya continues to grapple with its own laws on capital punishment. While the death penalty remains legal, no executions have been carried out since 1987. A landmark 2017 Supreme Court ruling declared the mandatory death penalty unconstitutional, giving judges discretion in sentencing for capital offenses.

As Stephen Munyakho begins the long process of rebuilding a life that was almost cut short, his harrowing journey is a stark reminder of the thousands of other Kenyans abroad facing silent struggles. His freedom, hard-won and dearly paid for, forces a national conversation on how better to protect citizens who travel far from home in search of a better life.