Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has revealed that more than 1,000 Kenyans are currently incarcerated in foreign countries after being convicted of various crimes.
Mudavadi made the revelation as Kenya intensifies negotiations with Vietnam to seek a lesser sentence for Margaret Nduta, a 30-year-old Kenyan woman sentenced to death by lethal injection for drug trafficking. Nduta was convicted in 2023 after being found guilty of smuggling two kilograms of cocaine into the Southeast Asian nation. Her execution had been scheduled for yesterday.
While her family insists she was innocent, Mudavadi warned that Kenyans traveling abroad must adhere to the laws of their host countries. He emphasized that diplomatic interventions do not always guarantee success, particularly in cases involving serious crimes such as drug trafficking.
“The moment you land in another country, the laws that apply are not Kenyan laws but those of that country. Please respect them,” Mudavadi said.
He further stated that Kenya enforces strict anti-narcotics laws within its borders and will not tolerate drug trafficking, whether by its own citizens or foreigners.
The government’s push for leniency in Nduta’s case highlights the broader challenges facing Kenyans abroad, with many finding themselves entangled in legal battles due to criminal offenses. While some cases involve minor violations, others—such as drug trafficking—carry severe penalties, including capital punishment in certain jurisdictions.
As negotiations continue, the Kenyan government has reiterated its commitment to protecting its citizens abroad while maintaining the need for compliance with international laws.