Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary (PS) Korir Sing’oei has confirmed that Kenyan officials have finally gained access to Margaret Nduta, who is currently imprisoned in Vietnam.
In a statement on Friday, March 21, Sing’oei assured that while Nduta remains deeply distressed, she is in good condition and has been treated humanely.
Kenyan representatives managed to visit Nduta at Hoi Chi Minh Prison, where she has been held after being convicted of drug trafficking.
She was sentenced to death by a Vietnamese court for allegedly transporting over two kilograms of cocaine. Her execution had been scheduled for Monday, March 18.
“Happy to report that our team from Bangkok successfully obtained travel visas and finally reached Hoi Chi Minh Prison in Vietnam, where Margaret Nduta is currently detained,” Sing’oei announced.
“We can confirm that although she is deeply troubled by her situation, she is coping and has been treated fairly,” he added.
The PS further explained that efforts to save Nduta from execution are still underway, including a formal appeal that has already been filed in court.
In addition, the Kenyan government is engaging in diplomatic discussions with Vietnamese authorities to explore other possible solutions to the case.
“Margaret did not have a lawyer to represent her during the trial, but a legal appeal was recently filed and is expected to be heard soon.
Meanwhile, we remain in discussions with our Vietnamese counterparts to find a way to resolve this difficult matter,” Sing’oei stated.
Kenyan officials based in Thailand are also working tirelessly to negotiate a suspension of the execution, giving both countries more time to discuss possible interventions.
This latest update follows an earlier statement by Sing’oei on Sunday, March 16, in which he revealed that he had spoken directly with Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister, Nguyen Minh Hang, regarding Nduta’s case.
While acknowledging the complexity of the matter, Nguyen assured the Kenyan government that their appeal was being reviewed.
Nduta was sentenced to death by lethal injection on March 6 after being found guilty of smuggling drugs.
According to reports, the 37-year-old was allegedly working for a man identified as John, who instructed her to deliver a suitcase to a woman in Laos. Before her arrest in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, she had already passed through three international airports undetected.
During her trial, Nduta insisted that she had no knowledge of the drugs hidden in her suitcase. Her case has sparked widespread concern among Kenyans, with many calling for urgent government intervention to prevent her execution.
The Kenyan government remains committed to exhausting all possible avenues to secure her release.
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