By Ebi Kesiena
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has stated that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs lacks the funds to secure the release of Stephen Munyakho, who is jailed and facing execution in Saudi Arabia.
Mudavadi noted that the ministry would continue diplomatic efforts and encouraged public contributions to help raise the necessary funds.
Despite reaching out personally to his Saudi counterpart to delay the execution, Mudavadi decried that there is no budget allocated for such cases and called for Parliament to consider creating such a fund.
He stressed the importance of viewing foreign relations as a security issue, highlighting the underfunding of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Munyakho’s execution, initially set for May 15, 2024, was postponed by Saudi authorities.
The altercation that led to his conviction began as an argument and escalated to violence, resulting in the death of his friend and colleague, Abdul Halim Mujahid Makrad Saleh.
Saleh’s family however appealed at a Shariah court and in a turn from bad to worse, Munyakho was sentenced to death.
This meant that besides having an ‘expiry date’, the Kenyan, who is a father of three – two sons and a daughter, was to face his death with a sword.
To avoid execution, a reduced “diya” or “blood money” of 3.5 million Saudi Riyals (approximately Sh150 million) must be paid.
Munyakho’s family is actively raising funds to meet this amount and secure his release.
This is provided by the Islamic law.
