Gatundu North MP Elijah Njoroge Kururia has revealed that President William Ruto and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs have reached out to Vietnamese authorities regarding the looming execution of a Kenyan national.
Margaret Macharia Nduta is facing the death penalty in Vietnam after she was convicted of smuggling over two kilograms of drugs.
This followed her arrest at Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, which is one of the biggest transport hubs in the Asian nation.
Nduta's plight has since gained nationwide attention in Kenya, with citizens urging the government to intervene to quell her execution.
With the Murang'a native's execution date set for Sunday, March 16, Kururia exuded hope as he revealed during a TikTok Live session that the government had made a last-ditch attempt to save her.
"I can confirm that the president and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs contacted Vietnam yesterday and are waiting for feedback," he said during the live session.
"The Vietnamese authorities have remained adamant. I’ve seen many people asking if the president is aware—yes, he is, and the government is awaiting a response."
On Thursday, March 6, the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Court sentenced Nduta to death in a move that reinforced the nation's harsh stance on drug-related crimes.
According to court documents, Nduta was allegedly paid $1,300 (approximately KSh 167,000) to transport the contraband - an allegation which she vehemently denied in court, insisting that she thought she was transporting legitimate goods.
One way the Kenyan government can intervene to save Nduta is through a diplomatic intervention, which entails the Foreign Affairs Ministry writing to Vietnam seeking clemency or a lesser sentence for the Kenyan.
The other plausible option for Nduta is if her legal team can file an appeal within Vietnam’s judicial system to request a review of her death sentence. This is however unlikely since it would need new evidence to emerge supporting Nduta's claims.
President William Ruto can also appeal directly to Vietnam's leadership on humanitarian grounds but Kenya's lack of a strong diplomatic presence in Vietnam could hamper the Murang'a native's chances of avoiding the death penalty, especially with time running out.
On Sunday, Foreign Affairs permanent secretary Korir Sing'Oei shed some light on Nduta's life and death plight after being put to task by Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka.
