‘It has been draining’: Stephen Munyakho’s ‘Stevo’s’ family opens up on journey to freedom

During an X Space on Citizen Digital on Tuesday night, Cyprian Munyakho, Stevo’s brother and the secretary of the Bring Back Stevo Committee, said the family has endured a draining journey.

“When we were told to pay the Ksh. 150 milllion ‘blood money’, we tried to raise the funds, but the amounts were coming in slowly and the deadline kept approaching. Then we were slapped with an additional Ksh. 2 million fine for an extension of the deadline,” he said.

Cyprian recounted how the family and committee met every Monday and Thursday from  8pm all the way to 10pm sometimes as they strategized on how to raise the funds.

“Prayer WhatsApp groups were formed to seek divine intervention and more,” he said.

Cyprian said that what made the family keep going was that “We told ourselves we can’t lose hope when he (Stevo) is full of hope”.

Cyprian says the issue currently weighing on the family’s mind is thinking about how to welcome Stevo back when the time comes for him to return.

Munyakho was working in Saudi Arabia as a warehouse manager and was sentenced to death by the sword after being involved in a fight with a Yemeni colleague in April 2011. The colleague succumbed to injuries. 

The Kenyan was due to be executed last May but Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Ministry at the time said Saudi authorities agreed to put it off pending further negotiations involving not only diplomats but religious leaders.