Margaret Nduta, a Kenyan national convicted of drug trafficking in Vietnam, is set to face the death penalty after being found guilty of smuggling two kilograms of cocaine into the country.
Nduta was arrested in July 2023 at Ho Chi Minh City Airport while allegedly transporting a suitcase for a man identified only as John, in exchange for Ksh.168,000 and full travel expenses. Despite claiming she was unaware of the suitcase’s contents, the Vietnamese court handed her a death sentence on March 6, 2025.
Kenyan Government Under Pressure
Her sentencing has sparked outrage and concern in Kenya, with family, civil society groups, and political leaders calling for diplomatic intervention to commute her sentence or allow her to serve time in Kenya.
Her family, leading a relentless campaign, has pleaded for government intervention, expressing willingness for her to serve a jail term in Kenya instead. Meanwhile, lawmakers have raised the matter in Parliament, urging the government to act swiftly before Nduta faces execution by lethal injection.
Vietnam’s Tough Drug Laws
Vietnam enforces some of the harshest drug laws in the world, with possession of over 600 grams of heroin or cocaine or more than 2.5 kilograms of methamphetamine punishable by death. Nduta was caught with two kilograms of cocaine, placing her in the highest category of offenders.
Despite diplomatic efforts and public appeals, negotiations remain challenging, as Vietnam is known for its strict enforcement of drug-related crimes. However, Kenyan authorities continue to explore all available diplomatic avenues in a bid to save Nduta from execution.
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