Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei on Friday, March 21, issued an update on Margaret Nduta, who is currently being held in a prison in Vietnam, stating that she was in good condition.

Through a statement, Korir revealed the new development after a Kenyan team sent to Vietnam finally managed to gain access to Nduta, who is being held in Hoi Chi Minh Prison over drug trafficking.

Nduta was sentenced to death by a Vietnamese court after being found guilty of trafficking over two kilos of cocaine and was set to be executed on Monday, March 18.

"Pleased to update that our team from Bangkok finally secured travel visas and made it to Hoi Chi Minh Prison in Vietnam, where Margaret Nduta is presently held," Sing'oei stated.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Kipkorir Sing'oei and an insert of Margaret Nduta who is facing an execution in Vietnam.

Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Kipkorir Sing'oei and an insert of Margaret Nduta who is facing an execution in Vietnam. Photo Kiprorir Sing'oei

"We can confirm that while deeply distressed, Margaret is coping and has been treated humanely," he added.

Sing'oei further mentioned that efforts were still ongoing to save Nduta from a looming execution through an appeal filed at the courts, as well as diplomatic talks between Kenya and Vietnam.

"Though Margaret was not represented by counsel during the 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," the PS stated.

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Kenya's representatives in Thailand are seeking to negotiate a stay of Nduta’s execution to allow further engagement between Kenya and the Vietnamese government.

The latest development comes after the PS disclosed that he had held a phone conversation with his Vietnam Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister Nguyen Minh Hang over Nduta’s case.

Korir, in a statement on Sunday, March 16, noted that while Nduta’s case was complex and difficult, Nguyen had assured him that Kenya’s petition was under consideration.

Nduta was sentenced to death by lethal injection on March 6 this year after being found guilty of drug trafficking.

The 37-year-old is said to have been working for a man identified as John, who requested her to deliver a suitcase to a woman in Laos. Before her arrest in Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital, Nduta had successfully travelled through three airports.

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In her defence, Nduta told the court in Vietnam that she was unaware the drugs were in her suitcase. Her case has raised significant concern among Kenyans as the government continues its relentless efforts to secure her release.