For the better part of Sunday, Kenyans across the country went down in prayers asking God to secure the release of the a Kenyan woman, Margaret Nduta Macharia who faces the hang in Vietnam.
Kenyans from across the country appealed to President William Ruto to intervene and save the life of Nduta who awaits her hanging by the Vietnam Authorities on Monday, March 17, 2025, at around 8:30pm Kenyan time.
Nduta, 37 was was arrested by the Vietnam Authorities in July, 2023 at the HO Chi Minh City- Tan Son Nhat International Airport with 2 kilogrammes of Cocaine concealed in a luggage.
Nduta, has been through the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, passed through Bole International Airport in Ethiopia and Hamad International Airport in Qatar before she was nabbed in Vietnam by the Vietnam Authorities.
In his defense, Nduta said that she was not aware of the contents of the luggage given to her by one person only known as John. Nduta told the Vietnam court that she was sent to deliver the luggage to a woman in Laos and she was paid up to 1,300 US Dollars with her transport expenses covered.
However, on March 6, 2025, The Vietnamese courts found her guilty of trafficking in drugs and other harmful substances, handing Nduta a death sentence. She is scheduled to be executed on Monday, March, 17, 2025 at around 8:30pm East African time.
According to the Vietnam Authorities, Nduta will have her last meal on Monday, 17th at 7:30pm East African time.
Vietnam has remained adamant without any response to Kenyan government over the plea to release Nduta and allow the Kenyan Authorities to try him in the country.
Vietnam has the most strict laws enforcing capital punishment for trafficking with death sentence to those found with 600gms and above of cocaine or heroine.
Vietnam does not publicise execution in real time. The whole process is carried out in strict confidentiality especially around capital punishment. It does not issue any post execution reports or updates unless under international pressure.
However, as the clock quickly ticks with some suspecting that Nduta’s execution might have already taken place as Vietnam conducts such process in strict secrecy, local leaders have appealed to President William Ruto’s intervention to salvage the situation.
“I have personally written to President William Ruto to take personal initiative in his own capacity and save Margaret Nduta,” stated Kisii Senator, Richard Onyonka.
Embakasi East MP Babu Owino claimed that Nduta was used by international hard drugs traffickers, calling on President William Ruto to intervene and secure the release of Nduta, so that she can be tried locally.
