The Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (SUPKEM) has confirmed that the family of Stephen Munyakho has finally received the Ksh129 million required for his release and pardon from execution in Saudi Arabia.
Speaking during a press briefing on Friday, SUPKEM chairman Hassan Naado assured journalists that the money had been provided by the Muslim World League and that the necessary procedures to secure Munyakho’s freedom were now underway.
“I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Muslim World League, particularly its leader, Dr Mohammad bin Abdulkarim Al-Issa, for stepping in to help us save our brother Stephen.
On August 13, we made a request to the League while they were in the country, and one month ago, they fulfilled their pledge by donating one million dollars (equivalent to Ksh129 million) to the family,” Naado stated.
This confirmation comes after a period of uncertainty, as Munyakho’s family had previously denied receiving any funds.
Their response followed an earlier announcement by UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar, who stated that the money had been secured.
However, the family’s spokesperson and the Committee for the Release of Munyakho had insisted that they were yet to receive any official communication from the relevant authorities, despite making several inquiries.
With SUPKEM’s latest confirmation, the family can now breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that Munyakho is one step closer to returning home.
Naado further revealed that official communication had been made with key stakeholders, including the Secretary General of the Muslim World League, Kenya’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, and Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Kenya.
These officials confirmed that the remaining step in the process was the legal case processing, which, according to SUPKEM, is a complex but ongoing procedure.
“As of today, I have received reliable information that the victim’s family in Saudi Arabia has received the blood money. The funds are now in the hands of the relevant Saudi authorities, and the process of securing Steve’s release is ongoing,” Naado affirmed.
Munyakho was convicted of manslaughter in 2012 following a fatal altercation with a friend. Initially, he was sentenced to prison, but the victim’s family later appealed the case, leading to an enhanced ruling of execution.
However, under Saudi law, there was an option for Munyakho to escape execution if he paid blood money amounting to Ksh120.75 million (3.5 million riyals).
Since then, his family, together with the Kenyan government and other well-wishers, has been working tirelessly behind the scenes to save him.
Their efforts have finally paid off with the confirmation that the funds have been received and his release process is in progress.
During the briefing, SUPKEM also took the opportunity to urge Kenyans living or working in foreign countries to adhere to the laws of their host nations.
They emphasized that legal cases in foreign jurisdictions can be extremely challenging, and rescuing individuals from such situations is often a complicated process.
Meanwhile, the government is still actively working to assist Margaret Nduta, another Kenyan who is facing the death penalty in Vietnam. Efforts are ongoing to secure her freedom and prevent her execution.
Join Gen z and millennials TaskForce official 2025 WhatsApp Channel To Stay Updated On time the ongoing situation https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
