Margaret Nduta’s Sister Breaks Silence on Ghana Arrest Claims: “It’s a Lie”
Margaret Nduta, a 37-year-old Kenyan, faces execution in Vietnam after being convicted of drug smuggling. However, her family has strongly refuted allegations that she was involved in illegal drug trafficking before her arrest.
Reports had circulated suggesting that Nduta had a history of smuggling and had been previously prosecuted in Ghana and Saudi Arabia. But speaking publicly for the first time, her twin sister, Wambui, dismissed these claims, asserting that Nduta had no prior travel history until her current predicament in Vietnam.
“I want to tell those on social media that your allegations that my sister has been out of Kenya several times are false. My sister has never been out of Kenya, she has been living in Ruai,” reiterated Nduta’s sister.
Government’s Intervention and Nduta’s Condition
Kenya’s Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary, Korir Sing’oei, provided an update on Nduta’s situation, revealing that she had been granted a temporary reprieve from execution following intervention by Nairobi. He noted that despite being in acute distress, Nduta was gradually regaining stability, aided by the presence of the Kenyan mission in Vietnam.
“Our team from Bangkok secured travel visas and visited Margaret Nduta at Ho Chi Minh Prison in Vietnam. While deeply distressed, she is coping and has been treated humanely,” Sing’oei confirmed.
The government official acknowledged the complexities surrounding the case and urged Kenyans to remain vigilant against schemes that could land them in similar predicaments. He also assured that the appeal initiated by the Kenyan government was still active, and they were awaiting the verdict from the Vietnamese court.
How Margaret Nduta Landed in Trouble
Nduta’s legal troubles began in July 2023 when she was arrested at Tan Son Nhat International Airport with two kilograms of illegal drugs hidden in her luggage. Court records indicate that she had been recruited by an unidentified Kenyan to transport a suitcase to Laos in Southeast Asia.
She was instructed to deliver the suitcase to a contact in Laos and return with unspecified “goods.” For this assignment, Nduta allegedly received a down payment of $1,300 (approximately KSh 168,000), with all travel expenses, including airfare, covered.
Vietnamese authorities disclosed that her travel itinerary included stops in several countries before she landed in Ho Chi Minh City on July 14, 2023.
Nduta’s Defense and Conviction
According to court documents, Nduta arrived late at the airport, prompting staff to assist her with immigration procedures and arrange her onward flight to Laos. It was during this process that customs officers uncovered over two kilograms of illicit substances concealed in her luggage.
In her defence, Nduta insisted she had no knowledge of the drugs inside the suitcase. However, prosecutors dismissed her argument, stating she bore full responsibility for transporting the illegal cargo. The court subsequently found her guilty and sentenced her to death on March 6.
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Margaret Nduta’s Sister Breaks Silence on Ghana Arrest Claims: “It’s a Lie”
