A family in Murang’a is grappling with an impending tragedy as their daughter, Margaret Nduta, faces execution in Vietnam. Arrested in July 2023 at Ho Chi Minh City Airport for allegedly smuggling drugs, Nduta was convicted and sentenced to death on March 6, 2025.
Her case has sparked outrage across Kenya, with government officials, legal experts, and social activists calling for urgent intervention. Despite diplomatic efforts to negotiate a reprieve, Vietnam’s strict drug laws leave little room for leniency.
Nduta reportedly agreed to transport a suitcase to a woman in Laos, allegedly unaware that it contained narcotics. She received Ksh. 168,000 and paid travel expenses from an individual known only as John. However, she was later found with two kilograms of cocaine—far exceeding the legal threshold for a death sentence under Vietnamese law.
Kenyan lawmakers have since raised the issue in Parliament, urging the government to act swiftly. Nominated MP Sabina Chege emphasized the urgency, pushing for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to step in immediately. National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula also directed the Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee to escalate the matter with the Foreign Affairs Ministry.
However, Vietnam, which maintains no official diplomatic mission in Kenya, has remained unyielding in its stance. Unlike other countries that negotiate prisoner transfers, Kenya lacks a bilateral agreement with Vietnam, complicating efforts to secure an alternative sentence.
On social media, the case has ignited intense debate, with some calling for Nduta’s extradition to serve her sentence in Kenya, while others argue that Vietnam’s sovereignty must be respected. Politicians such as Babu Owino and Gatundu North MP Njoroge Kururia have also voiced their concerns, urging President William Ruto to intervene.
Despite the outcry, Vietnam’s legal system appears steadfast in enforcing its ruling. As time runs out, Nduta’s fate remains uncertain. Her family, gripped by fear and sorrow, clings to hope as they await any news that could change the course of their daughter’s destiny.
Will a last-minute diplomatic breakthrough spare her life, or is Kenya on the brink of an irreversible loss? Only time will tell.
