Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has written an urgent appeal to President William Ruto, calling for diplomatic intervention to save a Kenyan sentenced to death in Vietnam.
In his letter dated March 14, Onyonka appeals to Ruto to secure clemency and repatriation for Margaret Nduta Macharia.
The 37-year-old Kenyan was sentenced to death in Vietnam over drug trafficking charges and was due for execution on Sunday.
She was sentenced by the court in Ho Chi Minh City to death for trafficking over 2 kg of drugs through Tan Son Nhat Airport.
In the open letter, the Kisii Senator urged the Kenyan government to take immediate action to safeguard Nduta’s fundamental rights, emphasizing the need for humanitarian intervention.
While acknowledging Vietnam’s judicial sovereignty, Onyonka appealed to President Ruto to engage the Vietnamese government, the United Nations, and international human rights organizations to negotiate a more lenient sentence and possible transfer of Nduta to Kenya.
“This distressing development calls for urgent diplomatic intervention to safeguard her fundamental rights and explore the possibility of clemency and repatriation,” Onyonka wrote.
The senator outlined three key options, including a plea for clemency to commute the death sentence to life imprisonment or an alternative penalty.
Onyonka also called for diplomatic negotiations for her repatriation to Kenya to serve her sentence under local laws.
He also called for engagement with international human rights bodies to support Kenya’s efforts in securing her fair treatment.
Kenya has historically advocated for justice and humane treatment of its citizens abroad, Onyonka noted, urging the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take immediate action.
Copies of the letter were also sent to the Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs Musalia Mudavadi, the Chief of Staff in the Office of the President, Felix Koskei, and the United Nations Mission in Kenya.
Onyonka expressed confidence in President Ruto’s leadership to secure a diplomatic resolution and save Nduta’s life.
“The President should have already made a personal effort in his capacity to initiate diplomatic negotiations with Vietnam leadership concerning a matter that involves a Kenyan Citizen,’’ Onyonka said.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino on Saturday also asked President Ruto to intervene and save Nduta's life.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei Nduta’s case is complex and difficult "but we are doing everything within our disposal to secure reprieve for our national."
