Government moves to stop Margaret Nduta's execution in Vietnam

The government says it has made efforts to secure the release of Margaret Nduta, the Kenyan woman sentenced to death in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam for drug trafficking.

Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing'oei said in a statement on X, that he had a telephone conversation on Sunday March 16, with his counterpart, H.E. Nguyen Minh Hang, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam over the matter the case.

"I conveyed to Madam Hang the anxiety of the Kenyan people on the impending execution of our national and reiterated our request for a stay of execution to allow our two countries to find a path to resolving the issue," posted the PS.

"I am grateful for Madam Hang’s assurance that our petition is under consideration by her country’s authorities. In the meantime, our Mission in Bangkok is actively following up the case."

The move follows petitions by several leaders including Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino who called on the government to intervene in Nduta's impending execution.

"I request President William Ruto to assist this Kenyan lady called Margaret Nduta, who is supposed to be hanged tomorrow in Vietnam," said Babu in a video posted online.

"This lady did no crime, she was at the wrong place at the wrong time, this is a lady who was misused, used, and abused."

Onyonka on his part had written a letter to the President over the matter.

"The President should have already made a personal effort in his capacity to initiate diplomatic negotiations with Vietnam leadership concerning a matter involving a Kenyan citizen," said Onyonka.

In response to Onyonka's letter, PS Sing'oei had said Nduta's case was difficult but the government was doing everything within its disposal to secure reprieve for Nduta.

Nduta, 37, was arrested in July 2023 while traveling to Laos and later sentenced to death on March 6 for trafficking two kilos of cocaine.