Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary (PS) Korir Sing’oei on Friday May 17, 2024 held a meeting with an official of the Embassy of Yemen in Nairobi, over the case of a Kenyan facing execution in Saudi Arabia.

This was after a Kenyan identified as Stephen Munyakho (Stevo) was set to be executed on May 15, 2024 over the death of a Yemeni national following an altercation.

The Foreign Affairs PS met with Abdulsalam Al Awadh, Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Yemen in Nairobi where they discussed ways of resolving the matter.

“I held a meeting with Mr. Abdulsalam Al Awadh, Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Yemen in Nairobi, to explore means towards reparating the loss of life inadvertently occasioned upon a Yemeni national by a Kenyan, currently facing capital punishment imposed by a Saudi Court,” Sing’oei posted on X.

The meeting comes a few days after Sing’oei met Stevo’s mother, Dorothy Kweyu and assured her that the government would take all necessary measures to ensure her son returns to Kenya safely.

He had earlier disclosed that Saudi Arabia authorities had postponed Stevo’s execution, to allow for further negotiations.

“I am deeply grateful to inform you that authorities in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have kindly granted our request to postpone the impending execution of Stephen Munyakho (now known as Abdulkareem), to allow for further negotiations between all parties,” he said.

Sing’oei added that the government will engage stakeholders in Nairobi and Riyadh, on the best way to bring the matter to a conclusion.

Reports indicate that Munyakho was involved in an argument which turned violent with his colleague Abdul Halim Mujahid Makrad Saleh.

During the incident, Saleh was stabbed and wounded but later succumbed while receiving treatment at a hospital.

Consequently, Stevo was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to five years in prison. 

However, the victim’s family appealed the ruling at a Shariah court, leading to Stevo being sentenced to death.

According to Islamic law, ‘blood money’, could be paid as financial compensation to the victim or his family. In Stevo’s case, he was supposed to pay Ksh150 million to the victim’s family.