Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan national who had been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia, has been released and is expected to return home as early as today, Wednesday, July 23.
The development was confirmed in an official statement from the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi.
"Mr. Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan national who had been sentenced to death in Saudi Arabia for manslaughter, has been released and is expected to return home as early as today," the statement read.
According to the office, Munyakho was released from prison on Tuesday, July 22, and is currently being processed for deportation back to Kenya.
As part of arrangements made by the Kenyan Embassy in Riyadh, Munyakho was granted the opportunity to perform Umrah immediately after his release.
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According to Mudavadi's office, the ritual was facilitated through official communication between the Embassy and the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
"Mudavadi notes that upon his release yesterday, Mr. Munyakho was facilitated to perform Umrah (minor pilgrimage) at the request of the Kenyan Embassy to the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs, before being transferred from prison to a deportation centre awaiting clearance for immediate deportation," the statement continued.
Additionally, Munyakho’s travel documents have been arranged by the Embassy as his original passport had expired during his time in custody.
The office further disclosed that Saudi authorities have agreed to cover the full cost of his deportation.
"The Embassy has already prepared an Emergency Travel Document (ETD) for Mr. Munyakho, as his passport had expired during his incarceration.
"The Saudi authorities have agreed to cover the full cost of his deportation, and the PCS is now awaiting confirmation of the time of his deportation flight, which could happen today. The government will communicate this as soon as the details become clear," the statement added.
On Tuesday, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary, Korir Sing'oei, announced that Munyakho was released after the judicial decree was fully satisfied.
“Our Mission in Riyadh has confirmed that Steve performed his Umra (minor pilgrimage) upon release,” he stated.
Munyakho, who worked as a warehouse manager, had been set for execution by the sword after being involved in a fight with a colleague in April 2011.
The colleague later succumbed to injuries while undergoing treatment.
Following a trial, Munyakho was found guilty of manslaughter in 2013 and handed a five-year prison sentence.
However, the victim’s family appealed the case, which eventually led to a death sentence for Munyakho.
He has been in custody for 13 years since April 9, 2011, in Shimeisi Prison in Saudi Arabia, before the Kenyan government intervened.
In May 2024, the Saudi government agreed to put the execution on hold following negotiations between the Kenyan and Saudi governments.
As a result of the negotiations, both countries reached an agreement, and in March 2025, a Ksh129 million settlement was paid for his release.
