Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has dismissed claims that he traveled to Vietnam to advocate for clemency on behalf of Margaret Nduta Macharia, a 37-year-old Kenyan woman sentenced to death for drug trafficking.
Nduta was arrested in July 2023 at Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City after authorities discovered over two kilograms of cocaine hidden in her luggage. She was sentenced to death on March 6, 2025. Following public outcry and appeals from Kenyans, the Vietnamese government granted a six-month postponement of her execution, initially scheduled for March 16, 2025. This extension allows for further diplomatic discussions and potential legal interventions.
Sonko’s involvement in the matter sparked speculation after he shared photos online, which some mistakenly believed featured key Vietnamese government officials. Accompanying the images was a brief caption: “Kazi imeanza”, leading many to the assumption he was actively pursuing Nduta’s clemency.
While Addressing the rumors, Sonko released a statement via social media by sharing a video clarifying his stance as he also expressed his sympathy for Nduta and her family, offering a prayer for her fate.
“Ati Niko Vietnam, Just seen African 001 has posted on TikTok that I’m in Vietnam trying to negotiate for the release of Margaret Nduta. May the Lord stand with Nduta’s family during this trying and difficult moment. May He have mercy on Nduta. May He deliver her from evil. May He forgive her all trespasses. May He lead her away from temptation.” Sonko went on.
The former governor went on to provide an insight on how Nduta can be saved while urging Margaret Nduta’s parents to share her phone number with DCI to trace her travel history and identify the real culprit behind the drug trafficking case.
“The only way to save Margaret Nduta is for her parents to provide her phone number so that the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) can retrieve her travel data via Safaricom. This will help establish when she left Kenya and the countries she transited through before arriving in Vietnam. Through this process, authorities can identify the person who sent Margaret with the drugs. That is the person who should be arrested and extradited to Vietnam,” he added.
As diplomatic efforts continue, The case has garnered widespread attention due to Vietnam’s strict drug laws, which impose the death penalty for trafficking large quantities of narcotics. Nduta’s family, along with Kenyan lawmakers, have been vocal in their calls for government intervention, highlighting the nation’s commitment to protecting its citizens abroad.
