How Ex-Kenyan MP’s Daughter Escaped Death Penalty in Malaysia After Arrest
As Kenya watches anxiously, the fate of Margret Nduta remains uncertain. The Kenyan woman was caught with two kilograms of cocaine in Vietnam, a country known for its strict drug laws. Now, questions are rising about whether she can avoid the death penalty.
Nduta claimed she did not know what was inside the suitcase she was carrying. However, the People’s Court in Ho Chi Minh City found her guilty of drug trafficking and sentenced her to death on March 6, 2025.
By Tuesday, March 18, 2025, her execution had not yet been carried out. The Kenyan government is making urgent efforts to save her. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent a team to Hanoi through Kenya’s embassy in Thailand to seek clemency for Nduta.
Can Nduta Escape the Death Penalty?
The final decision now rests with the Vietnam government. Kenya’s diplomats are hoping for a positive response, but there is no guarantee of success.
Nduta’s case is similar to that of Deborah Donde, daughter of former Gem MP Joe Donde. In 2006, Malaysian authorities detained Deborah and her friend on charges of dealing marijuana.
The two were arrested in Cyberjaya, near Kuala Lumpur, while staying at a Saudi Arabian friend’s house. Police found four kilograms of marijuana, leading to their arrest. The case gained massive attention in Kenya because of Deborah’s high-profile background.
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Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, under President Mwai Kibaki’s government, intervened. Raphael Tuju, the Foreign Affairs Minister at the time, confirmed that the government had provided state-hired lawyers to assist the two students.
Strict Drug Laws in Asia
Like Vietnam, Malaysia has strict drug laws. Possession of large quantities of drugs is automatically considered trafficking, which can result in the death penalty.
Deborah and her friend were lucky. Drug tests came back negative, and she was eventually released. In a later interview with 98.4 Capital FM, Deborah denied being a drug dealer, claiming she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Malaysia had executed over 100 people for drug-related offenses since its laws were enforced in 1981. Foreigners made up one-third of that number. Around the same period, a Kenyan university student was sentenced to life in prison for possessing 1.8 kilograms of heroin.
What’s Next for Nduta?
Nduta’s fate now depends on Vietnam’s decision. Will Kenya’s efforts secure a last-minute pardon? Or will she face the same fate as many before her? The coming days will be crucial in determining her destiny.
How Ex-Kenyan MP’s Daughter Escaped Death Penalty in Malaysia After Arrest
