Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei with Dorothy Kweyu, the mother of Stephen on May 14, 2024.[FILE]The execution date of a Kenyan jailed in Saudi Arabia over murder has been extended by one year.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oe said the decision followed negotiations between the Kenyan Mission in Riyadh, Saudi authorities and the convict's wife.
Stephen Munyakho, also known as Abdulkareem, was convicted of manslaughter in October 2011 by a Saudi court, but later handed the death sentence in 2014 by a Shariah court over the death of a Yemeni national during a fight.
This is the third time the execution deadline has been extended to allow the parties solve outstanding issues.
Munyakho’s execution was set for November 26, 2024, following an extension of an earlier execution deadline in June, 2024.
The initial execution date was May 13, 2024, but after reported diplomatic engagements by government officials, it was postponed.
PS Sing’oe said that the parties involved in the negotiations are banking on the good relations between Kenya and Saudi Arabia to bring the matter to a conclusion.
“I'm pleased to inform that after strenuous negotiations between our Mission in Riyadh, Saudi authorities and the wife, the impending execution of judgment against Stephen Munyakho (Abdulkareem) due for November 26, 2024, has been postponed for another one year to allow parties settle outstanding obligations.
“We shall continue relying on our two countries' cordial relations towards concluding the matter. The goodwill of all Kenyans, partners and stakeholders is equally appreciated. I commend Ambassador Ruwange for his leadership on this important matter,” Sing’oei said.
Munyakho’s execution was set for November 26, 2024, following an extension of an earlier execution deadline in June, 2024.
The 50-year-old was a warehouse manager at an establishment when a fight between him and Yemeni national, Abdul Halim Mujahid Makrad Saleh, broke out, resulting in Saleh's death.
His October 2011, conviction for manslaughter by a Saudi court was overturned by a Shariah court, which enhanced it to murder in June, 2014.
Since then, Munyakho has been a state guest in various Saudi prisons.
According to Sharia law, Munyakho’s sentence is execution by the sword.
His execution was delayed because one of the victim’s sons was a minor and had to attain an older age to give consent as per the Shariah law.
Negotiations with the Yemeni family in 2019 saw them agree to blood money amounting to 10 million riyals, an equivalent of Sh352.2 million.
Further negotiations reduced the amount to 3.5 million riyals last November, equivalent to over Sh120 million.
Munyakho’s family has been fundraising to raise the amount to settle the blood money.