LISTEN TO THIS THE AFRICANA VOICE ARTICLE NOW
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
After spending 13 years in a Saudi Arabian prison, Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan national, is finally on the path to freedom. Convicted of manslaughter, Munyakho had faced the grim prospect of execution under Saudi Arabia’s strict legal system, where families of victims can demand “blood money” in exchange for sparing a convict’s life. Now, after years of uncertainty, his release is being processed following the payment of $1 million (Sh129.5 million) to the victim’s family, a settlement that has saved his life.
Munyakho’s case took a dramatic turn after his mother made a desperate public appeal in 2024, pleading for help to secure his freedom. Her cries reached the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM), an influential religious body that took up the case and began lobbying for intervention. Their efforts led them to the Muslim World League (MWL), a powerful international Islamic organization headquartered in Saudi Arabia.
The breakthrough came on August 13, 2024, when SUPKEM hosted MWL Secretary General Dr. Mohamed AbdulKarim Alissa in Nairobi. During their discussions, the MWL was urged to intervene, especially since Munyakho and the deceased had been friends before the tragic incident. Given the circumstances, the MWL leadership agreed to pay the full $1 million settlement, ensuring that Munyakho would not be executed.
Now that the victim’s family has received the money, Saudi authorities are finalizing the legal and administrative processes necessary for Munyakho’s release. According to SUPKEM Chairman Al-Haji Hassan Ole Naado, he has been in constant communication with Saudi officials, the Kenyan government, and MWL representatives, all of whom have assured him that the process is moving forward.
“By the Grace of Allah, once these procedures are finalized, our brother will be allowed to return home,” Naado said, expressing relief and gratitude to those who played a role in securing Munyakho’s freedom.
LEAVE A COMMENT
You must be logged in to post a comment.