Kenyan in Saudi Arabia prison: Deadline extended for blood money collection, gov't pleads for support in raising Ksh.120M

Saudi Arabia has extended the deadline for the collection of compensation blood money owed to the family of a Riyadh resident allegedly killed by Stephen Munyakho, the Kenyan man imprisoned at Shimeisi Prison in the Governorate of Mecca.

In a statement on X on Thursday, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary (PS) Dr. Korir Sing'Oei revealed that the deadline has been extended by four months, from July 26 to November 26, 2024, following his Ministry's intervention.

"I laud the Kenya Mission in Riyadh for their dedicated effort in engaging Saudi authorities and the family of the deceased. We call on everyone’s support in raising the required 3.5 million Saudi Riyals (approx. Ksh. 120 million)," he said.

"We continue to work with Stephen’s family and will consolidate all fundraising efforts on the week beginning 8th July 2024 in order to assess progress made. We intend to further pursue all diplomatic channels available to resolve this matter and bring Stephen home."

Stephen has so far spent 13 years in different Saudi prisons.

His story, as shared by his mother Dorothy Kweyu, began on April 12, 2011, when she received a devastating phone call informing her of a tragic incident involving her son, who was working in Saudi Arabia.

Initial reports suggested that Stephen had been involved in a fatal altercation but the incident took a sinister turn when the 37-year-old was sentenced to death, by the sword, after a murder trial.

“My son was sentenced to death by the sword, but this would not be carried out immediately because a child from the Yemeni family was involved. The child had to be 18 to have a say on the execution of his father’s killer, I was later told," Dorothy said in March.

“There was also the “diya” or “blood money” option – financial compensation under Islamic law – which is paid to the victim or heirs of a victim in the cases of murder, bodily harm or property destruction by mistake.”

The gravity of the situation worsened after the victim's family sought justice under Shariah law, leaving Dorothy feeling helpless and cornered.

Despite the grim outlook, Dorothy refused to give up hope, tirelessly seeking support from her community and government officials, including those from Kenya's Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs.

Her efforts bore some fruit when the victim's family reluctantly agreed to negotiate a "diya" or blood money settlement.