Mother of Kenyan saved from Saudi death sentence speaks after son’s release
By Arnold Ngure, July 22, 2025The mother of Stephen Munyakho (Stevo), who was saved from Saudi Arabia’s hangman, has spoken since the news of the release was shared.
Speaking during an interview at her Katani home in Machakos County, Dorothy Kweyu stated that the detention of her son and the anxiety that had gripped her for 14 years was finally over
“I was totally overwhelmed and I am still in that feeling where I want to pinch myself and ask ‘Is this for real?’,” Kweyu said.
Changes in Kenya
She revealed that while she had not spoken with him since the news of his release from Saudi jails broke, she could not wait to see him back in the country.
“From the moment I got the news, I haven’t talked to him, and I doubt that he even has a handset. What kept me going was God, and I was surrounded by very prayerful people,” she remarked.
“My hope for Stevo is that he will find his way around, he will integrate, and find a very different Kenya from what he left. He didn’t leave the Expressway; he will find me in Katani, yet he left me in Nairobi West.”
New environment
“My prayer is that there is so much change that he needs to rest and absorb the environment; otherwise, he will be overwhelmed,” Kweyu narrated.
On Tuesday, July 22, 2025, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei announced that Stephen Munyakho, who was on death row in Saudi Arabia over manslaughter, has been freed.
In a statement, PS Korir informed the nation that Munyakho had secured his freedom according to the judicial decree.
The PS further promised to offer more information regarding his return to the country after escaping execution.
“Steve Abdukareem Munyakho, the Kenyan national who has been on death row in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, is free as at 10:00 am today pursuant to the full satisfaction of judicial decree,” Korir’s statement read in part. “Our Mission in Riyadh has confirmed that Steve performed his Umra (minor pilgrimage) upon release. We shall provide further details regarding his arrival in the country. I commend all who have offered their support towards securing this outcome,” it added.