March 17 is the fateful date that Margaret Nduta was set to be executed in Vietnam.
But when the day came and went without event, Nduta’s family held prayers for their kin and thanked the Kenyan government for their intervention.
Margaret Nduta Drug Bust and Arrest
Nduta, a 37-year-old Kenyan, was arrested in July 2023 at Vietnam’s Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City while traveling from Qatar to Laos.
Authorities discovered 2kg of cocaine concealed in her suitcase, leading to her immediate incarceration and subsequent sentencing to death.
Her family maintains that she was unknowingly used as a drug courier.
According to her mother, Purity Wangari, a man identified as Njoroge gave Nduta the suitcase, claiming hers was too small.
She allegedly had no knowledge that it contained illegal substances.
Margaret’s twin sister, Rosemary Wambui, recently revealed that two other women had traveled with her but left before her, raising further questions about the circumstances of her arrest. The identities and whereabouts of these women remain unknown.
Nduta’s case has garnered international attention, with Kenyans and human rights groups calling for her repatriation.
However, others like Kileleshwa MCA support the execution of Margaret Nduta, maintaining that she must face the consequences of her actions.
Kenyan officials have been in talks with the Vietnamese government, advocating for a review of her sentence and possible extradition. The execution was stalled due to diplomatic interventions, offering a glimmer of hope to her family.
Her story highlights the dangers of drug trafficking and the exploitation of unsuspecting individuals by criminal syndicates.
As negotiations continue, Nduta’s family remains hopeful that she will be spared from execution and allowed to serve her sentence in Kenya.
By Vivian K.