It’s a miracle! Stephen Munyakho speaks after arriving in Kenya

Stephen Munyakho, a Kenyan who was on death row in Saudi Arabia, has broken his silence after landing in Nairobi following his release, saying that being home is a miracle.

He arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) at 12.50 am.

Speaking after he was received by his family, friends and government officials, Munyakho said he was grateful to have a second chance at life.

He asked for time to rest before addressing what he had been through.

“I’m glad to be back home in Kenya. My presence here today is nothing short of a miracle, and I want to begin by thanking Allah for the gift of life,” he said.

“I’m grateful to Allah for this second chance that I have been granted. It’s wonderful to be back home, but please allow me some time to rest and reorganise myself before I can speak further,” he added.

Munyakho thanked everyone who prayed for him, encouraged him, and contributed towards his freedom and return home.

He had been working as a warehouse manager in Saudi Arabia when a dispute with his Yemeni colleague, Abdul Halim Mujahid Makrad Saleh, turned fatal in April 2011.

He was initially found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to five years, but the ruling was overturned on appeal, leading to a murder conviction and a death sentence under Sharia law.

The sentence was eventually suspended after the victim’s family accepted diya (blood money), and Munyakho was released on July 22, 2025, after the conditions of the judicial decree were met.

Munyakho had been scheduled to return a day later, but the journey was delayed.

The Bring Back Stevo Strategy Committee, which has been instrumental in securing his freedom, also welcomed him home.

“His arrival this morning from Jeddah is the result of a lengthy battle fought in Saudi courts and a fundraising campaign supported by Kenyans and foreigners of goodwill,” the committee said in a statement.

It highlighted the major financial and diplomatic efforts that enabled his release, including the Sh150 million diya paid to the family of the deceased.

“We especially thank the Muslim World League for paying the bulk of the Sh150 million diya to the family of the late Abdul Halim Mujahid Makrad Saleh, whose death led to Stephen’s conviction,” they stated.

“We also thank all those who contributed to the fundraising efforts and who offered prayers for Stephen’s release,” they added.

His return follows intense diplomatic efforts, financial contributions, and prayers from Kenyans both at home and abroad.