Margaret Nduta Macharia faces execution in Vietnam for drug trafficking. The Kenyan Foreign Ministry has deemed her case “complex” and is pursuing diplomacy for a possible reprieve. Family and legislators are urging the Kenyan government to negotiate her repatriation. Ms. Macharia’s final meal is scheduled prior to execution, highlighting the severity of Vietnam’s drug laws.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kenya has characterized the case of Margaret Nduta Macharia, who faces execution for drug trafficking in Vietnam, as “complex and difficult.” Her family and numerous Kenyans are advocating for diplomatic intervention as her execution date approaches. Nduta, aged 37, was sentenced to death after being convicted on March 6 for smuggling over two kilograms of cocaine in Ho Chi Minh City.
Family members and several Kenyan legislators are urging the government to negotiate with Vietnam to secure Nduta’s repatriation, even if that means serving her sentence in Kenya. Notably, Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka has appealed to President William Ruto in a letter dated March 14, advocating for clemency on humanitarian grounds and suggesting that her death sentence be commuted to life imprisonment or an alternative penalty.
In response, Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei expressed on X that the ministry is working diligently to secure a reprieve for Nduta. He reported contact with Vietnam’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nguyen Minh Hang, to request a stay of execution. Sing’oei noted, “I conveyed to Madam Hang the anxiety of the Kenyan people on the impending execution of our national.”
Sing’oei received assurances from Madam Hang that the petition for clemency is under review by Vietnamese authorities. As of now, Kenya does not maintain a diplomatic mission in Vietnam; hence, this issue is being managed by the Kenyan embassy in Thailand, which is authorized to operate in Vietnam.
Although the diplomatic relationship between Kenya and Vietnam is amicable, there exist no bilateral agreements currently in effect. The last official interaction occurred in 2020 when the then-Vietnamese Prime Minister hosted Kenya’s former Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Monica Juma.
As the deadline approaches, Nduta’s final meal is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. local time on Monday, with the execution set for 8:30 p.m. Vietnam is renowned for imposing stringent drug laws, whereby individuals convicted of smuggling or possessing significant quantities of drugs are subject to the death penalty.
In summary, the case of Margaret Nduta Macharia presents a complex challenge for the Kenyan government as it seeks diplomatic avenues for intervention. Given the impending execution and the lack of direct diplomatic ties with Vietnam, officials are exploring all options to advocate for her clemency. The situation underscores the serious ramifications of drug trafficking laws in Vietnam, which maintain some of the strictest penalties worldwide.
Original Source: www.citizen.digital
