Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to repatriating over 1,000 Kenyans incarcerated in foreign countries, emphasizing the use of diplomatic channels to secure their release.

Mudavadi made the remarks after officially meeting Stephen Munyakho, who recently returned to Kenya after spending 14 years on death row in Saudi Arabia. Munyakho was sentenced to death following a violent altercation in 2011 that resulted in the death of a Yemeni colleague. Initially sentenced to five years for manslaughter, his charge was later elevated to murder and he was handed a death sentence by beheading.

The Kenyan government, through Mudavadi’s intervention and diplomatic correspondence with Saudi authorities, secured a reprieve after the victim’s family agreed to accept diyya (blood money) compensation. With support from the Muslim World League, the government raised Ksh.129 million to settle the claim, leading to Munyakho’s pardon and eventual return home on July 29, 2025.

“This is a testament to the government’s dedication. Our embassies and missions work daily to ensure the best outcomes for Kenyans facing legal challenges abroad,” Mudavadi stated.

Munyakho expressed gratitude to President William Ruto, Mudavadi, and all Kenyans who contributed to his release.

The government continues to pursue diplomatic efforts to assist other Kenyans imprisoned globally, acknowledging that while not every case may succeed, each is given priority attention.