The Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’oei has confirmed that Kenyan national Margaret Nduta, who is currently on death row in Vietnam, is well.
In a statement shared on his X account on Friday, March 21, 2025, Sing’oei stated that a team from the Kenyan embassy in Bangkok had successfully obtained travel visas and visited Hoi Chi Minh Prison, where Nduta is being held. He assured the public that despite being deeply distressed, she is coping well and has been treated humanely.
“Pleased to update you that our team from Bankok finally secured travel visas and made it to Hoi Chin Mihn Prison in Vietnam where Margaret Nduta is presently held. We can confirm that while deeply distressed, Margaret is coping and has been treated humanely,” Sing’oei stated.
According to Sing’oei, Nduta was not represented by a lawyer during her trial, but an appeal was recently filed and is set to be heard soon. The Kenyan government is also engaging with Vietnamese authorities to explore other possible solutions to the case.
“Though Margaret was not represented by counsel during trial, an Appeal filed a few days ago will be heard soon. In the meantime, we continue to engage our Vietnamese counterparts on other options towards resolving this difficult matter,” he added.
Sing’oei urged Kenyans to avoid involvement in drug or human trafficking, warning that such activities carry severe consequences.
“Kenyans are strongly advised not to get tempted or lured into any form of drug or human trafficking. It is an extremely dangerous and costly misadventure.”
Nduta was sentenced to death by lethal injection after being found guilty of drug trafficking. Her execution was initially scheduled for Monday, March 17, 2025, but was temporarily halted, providing a reprieve amid ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Mudavadi
On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign and Diaspora Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi expressed regret over the situation, calling it unfortunate. He further disclosed that the ministry, through Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei, had launched high-level discussions with Vietnamese authorities in a bid to secure clemency.
“It is unfortunate that a Kenyan is facing this kind of situation. It is not a pleasant situation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and in particular my Principal Secretary has been trying to converse with his counterpart in Vietnam to see if there can be some mitigation in this process,” Mudavadi said.
“We hope there can be some success so that there is no summary execution as we go ahead,” he added.
