After spending 14 years behind bars in Saudi Arabia, Stephen Munyakho, now known as Abdulkareem, is finally coming home.
Munyakho is expected to arrive at Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) tonight, Monday, July 28, aboard a flight from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, scheduled to land at 11pm.
Munyakho’s release marks the end of a long and painful chapter that began in 2011 when he was jailed at Shimeisi Prison in Mecca.
His life was spared after the victim’s family agreed to diyya, or blood money, so that the authorities could spare his life from the death penalty.
This followed after the Kenyan government made serious efforts, including a personal intervention by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi directly to Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister.
Earlier this year, a combined effort by the Kenyan government and the Muslim World League raised Ksh129 million to pay the compensation. With the raised funds, Munyakho was officially pardoned, and on July 22, he was granted release from prison.
His return home was scheduled for July 23 but was delayed due to logistical issues. Arraignment were conducted over the weekend, clearing the way for his much-awaited reunion with family and friends tonight.