Mother of Kenyan saved from Saudi death sentence regrets failing to meet victim’s family
By Arnold Ngure, July 22, 2025The mother of Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan saved from the death penalty in Saudi Arabia, has regretted being denied the opportunity to meet the family of the Yemeni national killed by Stephen in 2011.
In an interview at her Katani home in Machakos County on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Dorothy Kweyu noted that while she initially harboured bad feelings against the victim’s family, she softened and always wanted to meet them.
“I have always prayed for the family of the victim; there are moments that as a human being, I have been forced to say some very unkind things about them, but most of the time, I’ve remembered that they are human beings,” Kweyu said.
Killed in an altercation
She revealed that Abdul Halim Mujahid, the man killed by Stephen after an altercation in 2011, were friends before the unfortunate incident.
“I have wanted to meet the widow of the victim, but she has never made it possible for me. I am extremely sad that Stevo is coming back before we meet. It was always my desire that we meet and express my deep regret over what happened, because these were two friends,” Kweyu narrated.
“I have nothing against them; it has been torture, and they may not know the torture I have gone through living with the sword over your child’s neck.”
Both victims
She urged Kenyans to pray for the two families, even as Stephen is expected back in the country after Foreign Affairs PS Kipkorir Sing’Oei announced his release.
“We are both victims, and I wish people would know that and pray for both of us,” Kweyu said.
Stephen was arrested and jailed for five years for manslaughter after Mujahid succumbed to his injuries following a fight they had in 2011.
However, Mujahid’s family later appealed the court ruling in 2014, and the charges were upgraded to murder, which carries the death sentence.
While the victim’s family had initially asked for a higher blood money, they settled on at least Ksh150 million, which was raised by the Muslim World League, to secure the release of Stephen.