STEPHEN MUNYAKHO RETURNS TO KENYA AFTER 14 YEARS ON DEATH ROW IN SAUDI ARABIA

Stephen Munyakho, a 51-year-old Kenyan who had spent 14 years behind bars in Saudi Arabia — much of it on death row — has finally returned home. Munyakho arrived at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport shortly before 1:00 a.m. on Monday July 28, 2025, ending a long and emotional journey marked by legal battles, international diplomacy, and appeals for mercy.
Munyakho, who had been working in Saudi Arabia as a warehouse manager, was arrested in April 2011 following a fatal altercation with a Yemeni colleague. He was initially convicted of manslaughter in 2012, but his sentence was later upgraded to murder in 2014, leading to a death penalty under Sharia law.
Efforts to save Munyakho’s life intensified over the years, spearheaded by his mother, veteran journalist Dorothy Kweyu, and supported by the Kenyan government and religious organizations. In a breakthrough, the Muslim World League stepped in earlier this year and paid the diya — or blood money — amounting to approximately KSh129 million to the victim’s family.
President William Ruto, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and Kenya’s diplomatic team played a key role in lobbying Saudi authorities, with Ruto reportedly raising the issue directly with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Following the payment and completion of legal procedures, Munyakho was officially released on July 22.
Before his deportation, he performed Umrah, a minor pilgrimage, and later boarded a flight back to Kenya. Upon arrival at JKIA, an emotional Munyakho described his return as a “miracle,” thanking God and all who supported his release.
His return has sparked widespread reactions, with many Kenyans celebrating the end of a painful chapter for Munyakho and his family.