Stephen Munyakho reveals reason he went to Saudi Arabia
By Valerian Khakayi, July 30, 2025Stephen Munyakho has revealed that the reason he went to Saudi Arabia was to take up a computing opportunity at a restaurant after obtaining a working visa.
Speaking to a local TV station on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, Munyakho disclosed that he embarked on a journey to Saudi Arabia in April 1996, marking his first venture into the Gulf nation.
“I went to Saudi Arabia in April 1996, which was the first time I went to Saudi Arabia, and I went on a working visa,” he disclosed.
“There was a restaurant that needed somebody to do their computing for them. I happened to get a visa, and it had to go through the Ministry of Labour, and then I finally ended up there.”
Munyakho on his release
Reflecting on his journey, Munyakho expressed profound gratitude for the support he received and the second chance at life
Speaking during a media briefing on Wednesday, July 30, 2025, Munyakho thanked the Kenyan government, diplomats, and citizens following his return home after 14 years on death row in Saudi Arabia.
“You don’t know how I feel,” he said. “It’s only I who knows how I feel. At the same time, words cannot express it.”
“I would just like to thank each and everybody, right from the Office of the President, the Foreign Ministry, the ambassadors that I worked with, the Kenyans at large. Your prayers, your contributions never went unnoticed,” he said.
“I feel indebted and I don’t know how I can ever pay back. Just accept my humble thanks, and I’m sure in later days we shall talk more.”
Arrest
Munyakho was arrested in 2011 following a fatal altercation with a Yemeni colleague while working as a warehouse manager in Saudi Arabia. He was initially sentenced to five years for manslaughter. However, the charge was later upgraded to murder, and he was sentenced to death by beheading.
After years of diplomatic efforts, financial contributions, and negotiations, the victim’s family agreed to accept diyya (blood money), a practice under Islamic law. This allowed Munyakho to be spared execution and ultimately freed.
He was released from prison on July 22, 2025, after the Kenyan government, in collaboration with the Muslim World League, raised Ksh129 million in compensation.
Munyakho’s story has captured national attention, with many Kenyans calling his return a miracle. His homecoming stands as a symbol of resilience, diplomacy, and the power of collective support.