Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Dr Korir Sing’oei has assured that the government will work to ensure the release of Stephen Bertrand Munyakho, a Kenyan man who is serving a jail sentence for the murder of a Saudi national.
Stephen’s family has been pushing a campaign named ‘Bring Back Stevo’ which seeks to raise Ksh150 million blood money to save him from facing execution according to Saudi law.
Speaking in an interview on Citizen TV, Dr Korir said the government hopes to push for extension of the deadline to raise the money which is currently set for May 15.
Dr Korir said that the government has since directed Kenya’s ambassador in Saudi Arabia to pursue diplomatic pathways in attempts to persuade the family of the bereaved and push for a review of the death penalty imposed on Stephen.
According to the PS, the government only learnt about his case and the predicaments of his family recently hence complicating chances of saving him.
“Based on the engagements of our Ambassador in Saudi today, we have the strong belief that that deadline might be extended particularly when we demonstrate to the court that efforts have been rolled out to try and mobilize some resources to be able to meet this family mid-way,” said Dr Korir.
In a highly publicized campaign, Stephen’s family is seeking help from Kenyans towards raising the Ksh150 million.
How Stephen’s predicaments started
His predicaments started after an altercation with a Saudi man back in 2011. According to a statement by the family, Stephen and the deceased were involved in a physical fight on Saturday, April 9, 2011, where they both sustained stab wounds.
Unfortunately, the Saudi man succumbed to the injuries which culminated in Stephen being charged in court.
Stephen would then be sentenced to an initial (5) years in prison after the case. However, the victim’s family appealed the sentencing and instead invoked the reciprocal right to revenge and appeal the case at the Shariah court.
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As per the family, the victim’s widow opted for execution as the ideal penalty and way for retribution even though she had the option of demanding the death sentence (eye for an eye) or blood money.
Stephen then appealed against the execution decision- a move that opened a window for another protracted court battle where the case is yet to be heard.
Bring Back Stevo Campaign
Years later, the family of the Saudi man softened its stance and instead gave Stephen the option of paying blood money and settled on a figure of Ksh150 million (Saudi Arabia Riyals (SAR) 3.5 million), which was a revision from the initial demand of SAR 10 million.
In the meantime, his family has pleaded for help from well-wishers to meet the demanded amount before the May 15 deadline through the Bring Back Stevo Campaign.
Also Read: Family Seeks Help to Fly Back Bedridden Daughter Stuck in Saudi Arabia
Stephen is the first born in a family of nine and his mother has expressed her wish to bring him back to the country while terming the death of the Saudi man an accident.
“Here we stand, with hope and trust in your generosity, seeking your support to raise the funds to compensate the bereaved family and thus secure the release of a dear son, brother, father, and uncle, who is completing 13 years in jail for a most unfortunate act he never intended to commit,” says his family.
“May our fervent plea touch your hearts and help bring back Stevo to his motherland.”
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