Kenya Pushes for Clemency as Citizen Faces Execution in Vietnam

Kenya Scrambles to Save Citizen Facing Execution in Vietnam

Urgent Diplomatic Efforts Underway to Secure Reprieve for Margaret Nduta

The Kenyan government is racing against time to halt the execution of Macharia Margaret Nduta, a 37-year-old Kenyan woman sentenced to death in Vietnam for drug trafficking. Authorities in Nairobi have confirmed that diplomatic efforts are in full swing to seek clemency or an alternative punishment for Nduta, who was convicted earlier this month.

Diplomatic Engagement at the Highest Levels

Responding to Senator Richard Onyonka’s urgent plea to President William Ruto, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei acknowledged the complexity of the case but reaffirmed the government's commitment to securing relief for the Kenyan national.

“Nduta’s case is challenging, but we are exhausting all possible avenues to seek reprieve,” Dr. Sing’Oei stated.

He revealed that diplomatic channels between Kenya and Vietnam had been activated, with direct engagements taking place between Nairobi and Hanoi. Dr. Sing’Oei himself held discussions with Vietnamese Deputy Minister Nguyen Minh Hang, during which he expressed Kenya’s concerns and formally requested a stay on the execution.

“I conveyed to Madam Hang the anxiety of the Kenyan people regarding this impending execution and urged a stay to allow diplomatic negotiations to take place,” he said. Vietnam, he added, had assured Kenya that the request would be considered.

Kenya’s diplomatic efforts are being spearheaded by its Mission in Bangkok, which is closely monitoring the situation and maintaining direct contact with Vietnamese authorities.

Calls for Clemency and Repatriation

In a March 14 petition addressed to President Ruto, Senator Onyonka emphasized the urgency of the matter, urging the government to seek clemency, negotiate repatriation, and explore legal alternatives that would allow Nduta to serve an appropriate sentence in Kenya.

“While respecting the sovereignty of the Vietnamese judiciary, the Kenyan government must intervene to ensure that Ms. Macharia’s life is spared and that she is given a chance to serve a fair sentence in her home country under Kenyan law,” the senator wrote.

He further called for diplomatic negotiations to reduce the death penalty to life imprisonment or an alternative sentence and urged Kenya to involve international human rights organizations and the United Nations in its appeal.

"It is my sincere hope that through your leadership, a diplomatic resolution can be reached to save Ms. Nduta’s life and allow her to face justice at home," he added. The letter was also sent to Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the United Nations Mission in Kenya.

The Case Against Nduta

Nduta, a native of Murang’a County, was arrested in July 2023 while transiting through Vietnam on her way to Laos. She was charged with trafficking two kilograms of cocaine, a crime that carries severe penalties under Vietnamese law.

On March 6, 2025, the People’s Court in Ho Chi Minh City found her guilty and sentenced her to death by lethal injection. Vietnam is known for its strict drug laws, with execution being the standard punishment for trafficking substantial quantities of narcotics.

A Mother’s Desperate Plea

Nduta’s mother, Purity Wangui, has made an emotional appeal to Kenyan authorities, expressing her wish to travel to Vietnam for a final visit with her daughter.

“I am waiting for family members to accompany me. It doesn’t matter how long it takes—I must see her before they carry out the sentence,” she said, adding that she lacks the financial means to make the 8,100-kilometer journey.

Nduta’s family has urged President Ruto and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to intensify diplomatic interventions and explore all possible legal avenues to bring her back home.

As time runs out, Kenya’s diplomatic mission faces a daunting challenge in persuading Vietnamese authorities to reconsider the harsh sentence and grant Nduta clemency.