Stephen Munyakho, who spent 13 years on death row in Saudi Arabia has been freed after the Muslim World League paid the $1 million blood money required for his release.
He had been in prison since 2012 after being convicted over the death of a Yemeni colleague during a workplace fight.
Stephen Munyakho on Death Row
Munyakho left Kenya in his early 20s to work in Saudi Arabia. In 2011, he got into an argument with a colleague over payment and they fought. In the process, the colleague was injured and taken to hospital, where he died.
Stephen was arrested and charged with manslaughter. In 2012, he was sentenced to five years in prison. In 2014, after an appeal by the victim’s family, his sentence was changed to the death penalty.
Under Saudi law, execution can be avoided if the victim’s family accepts diyya (blood money). In this case, the amount required was $1 million (about Ksh129 million). Munyakho’s mother, Dorothy Kweyu, began a vocal campaign to save her son. She reached out to the Kenyan government, faith-based organizations, and the public for help.
But only about 15% of the required amount was raised after years of trying.
In August 2024, Kweyu visited the offices of the Supreme Council of Kenya Muslims (Supkem). Supkem raised the case during a visit by the Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL), Dr. Mohamed Abdul Karim Alissa.
They explained that the death was not premeditated and that Stephen and the victim had been friends. The Muslim World League agreed to pay the full amount demanded by the victim’s family.
Muslim World League to the Rescue!
In March 2025, UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar confirmed at a State House Iftar event that the MWL had paid the $1 million a month earlier. Saudi authorities then began the process of releasing Stephen.
On July 22, 2025, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei confirmed that Stephen had been released at 10:00 a.m. He added that Stephen performed Umrah after his release and that further details about his return would be announced later.
Kweyu had publicly pleaded for her son’s life for over a decade. She once asked if she could take his place in execution. Supkem Chairman Hassan Ole Naado said the case was given special consideration and confirmed that the victim’s family accepted the blood money. He advised Kenyans working abroad to follow local laws carefully.
Stephen Munyakho is now free after 13 years in prison and facing execution. His return to Kenya is expected soon.
By Vivian K.