Nairobi, March 26- United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Hassan Omar has announced that Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan previously sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia, will soon return home after a fine of Sh129.5 million was cleared.
Speaking at the State Iftar dinner hosted by President William Ruto at State House Nairobi, Omar revealed that the Muslim World League had paid $1 million (Sh129.5 million) following Ruto’s direct appeal for intervention.
“The President made a passionate request on behalf of a Kenyan facing execution. The Saudi Arabian ambassador to Kenya and Kenya’s ambassador to Saudi Arabia have confirmed that the request was honored. The payment has been made, and Munyakho will return home safely,” Omar stated.
Munyakho, a 50-year-old former warehouse manager, was convicted in 2011 after an altercation with his colleague, Abdul Halim Mujahid Makrad Saleh, turned fatal. Saleh, who was stabbed in the thigh and thumb, managed to reach a hospital but later succumbed to his injuries.
Initially convicted of manslaughter, Munyakho’s sentence was later upgraded to murder by a Shariah court in 2014. Under Saudi law, he was eligible for execution by beheading, but the process was delayed because one of the victim’s sons was a minor and had to reach legal age to consent to the execution.
His execution, initially scheduled for May 13, was postponed following diplomatic negotiations. The victim’s family had initially demanded Sh352.2 million in blood money, but after prolonged discussions, the amount was reduced to Sh129.5 million, paving the way for Munyakho’s release.
