Kenyan Woman Sentenced to Death in Vietnam for Drug Trafficking

 

By Lucy Jemeli 

A Kenyan woman, Margaret Nduta Macharia, has been sentenced to death in Vietnam after being caught attempting to smuggle over two kilograms of cocaine into the country. The 37-year-old, a mother of one from Murang’a County, was arrested at Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City, where authorities found the drugs hidden in a false-bottomed suitcase.

Margaret, who maintains that she was unaware of the illicit cargo, claims she was duped by a man named John in Nairobi. In her defense, she said she was instructed to deliver the suitcase to a woman in Laos. "I was given the suitcase by a man called John in Nairobi. He told me to deliver it to a woman in Laos," Margaret said during her trial.

However, Vietnamese authorities dismissed her claims, citing the country's strict drug laws that mandate the death penalty for those convicted of trafficking over 600 grams of cocaine. The court ruled that Margaret was guilty, despite her assertions of being misled.

Her family in Kenya has expressed devastation and disbelief at the sentence. Purity Wangui, Margaret's mother, has pleaded for the Kenyan government to intervene. “My daughter is not a criminal. She was tricked. We are begging the government to help bring her back home,” she said tearfully.

In response, Kenyan authorities have launched diplomatic efforts to seek clemency for Margaret. Korir Sing’Oei, Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, confirmed that the Kenyan government is engaging with the Vietnamese government to explore possible legal and diplomatic avenues to save Margaret from execution. “We are working tirelessly to seek a resolution to this case, and to bring our citizen back home,” Sing’Oei said.

The appeal window for Margaret’s case closed on March 12, leaving little hope unless the Vietnamese government grants clemency. Human rights activists have voiced concern over the increasing number of young Africans being targeted by drug trafficking syndicates. “Margaret’s case is a wake-up call. Many innocent people are used as drug mules without their knowledge,” said Jane Muthoni, a human rights activist.

As the clock ticks down, Margaret's family, the Kenyan government, and human rights groups continue to push for mercy, hoping that Vietnam will reconsider its harsh verdict.

March 17, 2025