Margaret Nduta’s twin sister, Wambui Macharia, has dismissed allegations linking the 37-year-old to previous arrests abroad before her detention in Vietnam.
Addressing journalists on Saturday, March 22, Wambui said Nduta’s journey to Vietnam was the latter’s first trip abroad and that it was also the first time Nduta had been arrested over a drug-related offence.
According to Wambui, she went to school alongside Nduta and studied up to Form Two before they dropped out and subsequently travelled to Nairobi to look for a job.
While living in Ongata Rongai, Kajiado County, the duo began working as saloonists before relocating to Nairobi’s Ruai Estate together.
“We worked together and did everything together, but when Nduta found a job at Kazi Mtaani, we parted ways. When she lost her job at Kazi Mtaani, she relocated back to Kware in Rongai,” said Wambui.
While addressing the matter, Nduta’s sister called on Kenyans, particularly those on social media platforms, against fuelling rumours about her sibling.
“I want to tell those on social media that your allegations that my sister has been out of Kenya several times are false. My sister has never been out of Kenya, she has been living in Ruai,” reiterated Nduta’s sister.
The clarification comes a day after Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei confirmed that a Kenyan team in Bangkok successfully secured travel visas and made it to Hoi Chin Mihn prison in Vietnam, where Nduta is currently detained.
Korir revealed that Nduta, who was sentenced to death for drug trafficking, was coping with the situation, further confirming that she was being treated humanely.
"Pleased to update you that our team from Bangkok finally secured travel visas and made it to Hoi Chin Mihn Prison in Vietnam, where Margaret Nduta is presently held," said Korir Sing'Oei.
"We can confirm that while deeply distressed, Margaret is coping and has been treated humanely. Though Margaret was not represented by counsel during the trial, an appeal filed a few days ago will be heard soon," he added.
Nduta was sentenced to death by lethal injection on March 6, after she was found guilty of trafficking two kilogrammes of cocaine. Before her arrest in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, Nduta had successfully travelled through three airports, including one in Qatar.
