A side by side photo of CS Musalia Mudavadi and Stephen Munyakho. Munyakho is expected in the country today. Photo: Musalia Mudavadi X.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign & Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi has confirmed the return of Kenyan Stephen Munyakho in the country today after the Saudi Authorities agreed to cover his deportation cost.
In a statement released by the office of the Prime Cabinet, he stated that the government was able to secure the release of Munyakho after a series of months of sustained diplomatic negotiations between the two countries, with President William Ruto forced to intervene.
Munyakho was convicted for execution after altercation with his colleague from Yemen at a working site that resulted to his death. Following the incident he had been convicted held at Shimeisi Prison in the Governorate of Mecca since 2011.
Munyakho was supposed to be executed in May, but the decision was deferred after the family of the deceased accepted diyya (blood money) amounting to KSh 129 million, which secured his release.
The detainee family strangled to raise the amount for compensation, as PSC and PS Foreign Affairs Korir Sing’oei continued with the talks with the family to lower the amount.
After his release, Steve performed his Umra (minor pilgrimage), before being transferred from the prison to a deportation centre awaiting clearance for immediate deportation.
In his statement Mudavadi confirmed that Embassy had prepared his travelling documents which had expired while in prison, and the Saudi Authorities have accepted to cover his deportation expenses, which is expected today.
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