NAIROBI, Kenya — A Kenyan national who had been on death row in Saudi Arabia has been released, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed.
Stephen Abdukareem Munyakho, a 50-year-old former warehouse manager, walked free on Monday morning after what officials said was the “full satisfaction of judicial decree” in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei, in a statement posted on X, announced Munyakho’s release, adding that Kenya’s embassy in Riyadh had confirmed the development.
“Steve Abdukareem Munyakho, the Kenyan national who has been on death row in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is free as at 10am today pursuant to the full satisfaction of judicial decree,” PS Sing’oei wrote. “Our Mission in Riyadh has confirmed that Steve performed his Umra (minor pilgrimage) upon release. We shall provide further details regarding his arrival in the country.”
Munyakho had been sentenced to death after being convicted of murder, a case that drew attention from human rights advocates and triggered efforts by both the Kenyan government and private actors to secure his release.
While the Foreign Affairs ministry has yet to disclose the details behind the resolution of the case, sources familiar with the matter suggested that the victim’s family had accepted diya—an Islamic legal term for blood money—paving the way for Munyakho’s release.
PS Sing’oei commended all who contributed to the successful outcome, without naming specific individuals or organisations involved.
Munyakho’s case had for years remained a source of anxiety for his family and the broader Kenyan diaspora community in the Middle East, where legal systems often differ significantly from those back home.
His release marks a significant diplomatic and humanitarian milestone for Kenya, which has been pushing to strengthen consular support for its citizens abroad.
The ministry said further details on Munyakho’s return to Kenya will be shared in due course.
