Margaret Nduta’s fate still uncertain, as Gov’t says over 1,000 Kenyans jailed abroad

The government and the family of Margaret Nduta, the Kenyan woman condemned to death in Vietnam for drug trafficking, is still waiting for communication on her final fate.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who also doubles as the Foreign Affairs minister, on Wednesday commented for the first time on Nduta’s saga, assuring Kenyans that every effort was being made to prevent her execution by lethal injection.

He added that Kenya had received details regarding her charges and was actively working towards securing clemency for the convict.

“It is unfortunate that a Kenyan is facing this kind of situation it's not a pleasant situation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and in particular my Principal Secretary, has been trying to converse with his counterpart in Vietnam to see if there can be some mitigation in this process,” said Mudavadi.

“We hope that they can be some success so that there is no summary execution.”

But it’s not just Nduta’s case that the government is now reviewing. According to Mudavadi, his office is also collecting data on other citizens who have run afoul of the law outside the country. This information, he says, will guide the government’s intervention for those affected.

“We're still counting that out of the Kenyans in the diaspora…we have a total of about 1,000 Kenyans in different countries facing incarceration for different offenses,” said Mudavadi.

A good portion of those incarcerated in foreign countries for drug trafficking are women who have been lured into the dangerous and risky trade.

The government is now pleading with Kenyans traveling abroad to be vigilant and avoid falling into traps set for unsuspecting individuals, as they may end up paying the ultimate price according to the laws of the country where they are arrested.

“Please, young Kenyans that are going out, remember that the moment you board a plane and the wheels have lifted, when you land in whatever country you're going into, the laws that apply are not Kenyan laws,” said Mudavadi.

Further, the Prime CS cautioned that the government will strive to maintain Kenya's image as an anti-drugs country.

He noted: “Vietnam has got its own judicial processes, and we want to make it clear that we do not want to market Kenya as a conduit for illicit trade with drugs or human trafficking or any other contraband…so if you’re traveling and you’re allowing somebody else to pack your bags, how sure are you that the person packing your bag is Jesus?”