Family Of Kenyan Facing Execution In Saudi Arabia Counters UDA's Claim Of Ksh 129M Payment
Munyako was found guilty of manslaughter in 2012 following a deadly dispute with a friend.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
The family of Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan in Saudi Arabia who was on the verge of execution, is now revealing that it has not yet received any official confirmation that the Muslim World League had successfully paid a Ksh129.5 million ($1 million) settlement for his release, as earlier reported by United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Hassan Omar.
In a press statement obtained by Viral Tea, the Committee for the Release of Munyakho revealed that it was yet to determine the accuracy of media reports and pronouncements that one of the institutional benefactors has paid the balance of 2.9 million of the 3.5 million Saudi riyals blood money set by the court as a condition for his release.
It maintained that it had not yet received any official communication from the relevant stakeholders, despite making inquiries and awaiting a response.
An image of Saudi Arabia's capital city, Riyadh, at night. /FILE
"If accurate, this information will be an answered prayer for the many well-wishers supporting the Save Stevo Campaign.
Munyako was found guilty of manslaughter in 2012 following a deadly dispute with a friend. The victim's family later appealed, leading to an increased sentence of execution, with the alternative of paying Ksh120,750,000 (3.5 million riyals) as blood money.
He had spent the last 13 years behind bars and, as of yesterday, remained in custody at Dhaban Prison in Jeddah.
"Once again, we thank the media, friends, family, and many Kenyans of goodwill who have prayed for Stevo’s safe return home and continue to do so," added the statement.
Speaking on Tuesday, March 25, during an Iftar event at State House hosted by President William Ruto, Omar announced that after successful negotiations between Saudi Arabia, Kenya, and the Muslim World League, Munyakho would soon reunite with his family.
Omar explained that discussions involving key officials from both nations led to a settlement of Ksh 129.5 million ($1 million) being paid to the Gulf nation to resolve the accusations against Munyakho.
He further disclosed that diplomatic efforts to secure Munyakho's release were coordinated at State House, Nairobi, suggesting possible involvement by President William Ruto.
"Last year, we brought the Secretary-General of the Muslim World League, Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Issa, here to State House. Through SUPKEM and President William Ruto, we made a passionate request to Issa of a Kenyan who was facing execution for murder to try and see whether an intervention can be made," he stated.
The ruling party's Secretary-General, Khalid Al Salman, stated that the Saudi Ambassador to Kenya and Kenya's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Mohamed Ramadhan Ruwange, confirmed the successful conclusion of the negotiations.
Munyakho was originally scheduled for execution on May 15, 2024, but the authorities extended the deadline to July 26, 2024, and then further postponed it by four months to November 26, 2024. The latest postponement had come on October 24, 2024.
Munyakho is the son of veteran journalist Dorothy Kweyu, who had begged the Kenyan government to intervene and save him from the hangman's noose.
