Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei announced that the Kenyan government has officially initiated discussions with Vietnamese authorities in a bid to secure a stay of execution for 37-year-old Margaret Nduta, who is facing the death penalty after being convicted of drug trafficking. Nduta’s case has garnered significant attention, as the Kenyan government seeks to intervene on her behalf in light of the circumstances surrounding her arrest and conviction.
Nduta was originally scheduled for execution on Sunday, March 17, 2025, following her conviction for smuggling over 2 kilograms of cocaine. Her arrest took place in July 2023 at Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, where authorities discovered the drugs hidden inside a modified suitcase. The People’s Court in Ho Chi Minh City sentenced Nduta to death after a trial, and her case has raised concerns about the fairness of the legal process and the severity of the punishment.
According to Nduta, she was recruited by a man from Kenya who asked her to transport the suitcase to Laos, unaware that it contained illegal drugs. She has maintained that she was not aware of the illicit contents and that she had been deceived into carrying the drugs across international borders. Her defense has raised questions about her role in the trafficking operation, with some critics arguing that she may have been manipulated into committing the crime.
Principal Secretary Sing’oei emphasized the complexity of Nduta’s case, acknowledging the delicate nature of the diplomatic negotiations between the two countries. “Margaret Nduta’s case is complex and difficult,” Sing’oei stated, highlighting the challenges in navigating both the legal and diplomatic aspects of the situation. “I have spoken to my counterpart in Vietnam, and they are currently considering Kenya’s petition to halt the execution scheduled for March 17,” he added.
Sing’oei further explained that Kenya’s diplomatic mission in Bangkok is actively engaging with Vietnamese officials and monitoring the situation on the ground in an effort to ensure that all avenues for appeal and clemency are explored. The Kenyan government is also working to raise awareness about Nduta’s case, with advocates calling for a review of the trial and a reconsideration of the death sentence, given her claims of being unaware of the drugs in her possession.
The case has drawn widespread attention both in Kenya and internationally, with human rights organizations calling for a halt to the execution and urging Vietnam to reconsider the use of the death penalty in drug-related cases. As the deadline for the execution draws near, the Kenyan government continues to explore all diplomatic and legal options to secure Nduta’s release or a reduction in her sentence.
