Margaret Nduta, A Kenyan Woman from Murang’a Charged with Drug Trafficking after She Was Arrested at the Tan Son Nhat International Airport in Vietnam With 2 Kgs of Cocaine, is set to be Executed tomorrow, 8PM
Nduta was hired in July 2023 by a fellow Kenyan, only identified as ‘John’ apparently a Stranger, to transport a suitcase to Laos, a country in Asia.
According to the indictment, she was instructed to hand over the suitcase to a woman in Laos and then return with unspecified ‘goods’.
Nduta was reportedly paid downpayment of $1,300 (approximately Ksh168,000) for the task, and her travel expenses, including plane tickets fully covered.
According to Vietnamese authorities, Nduta’s journey involved traveling through multiple countries before she arrived at Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) on July 14, 2023.
Due to a late arrival, airport staff assisted her in completing immigration procedures so they could help her book a flight to Laos.
However, during the process, customs officials discovered over two kilograms of illicit drugs concealed in her suitcase.
In her defense, Nduta claimed she was unaware that the suitcase contained drugs when she received it.
However, prosecutors argued that this statement was an attempt to evade responsibility, asserting that she was accountable for the illegal substances she transported.
The court ultimately found her guilty and handed down a death sentence on Thursday, March 6, 2025. With Her Appeal, set for March 12, expiring, she faces execution(Kunyongwa) within the next 24 Hours.
I have been following this story of Nduta closely and according to Vietnam media outlets, Nduta will take her last supper at 7:30 and after which she will be hanged at 8:30 today 16/3/2025 in Vietnam, this will be on Monday EAT.
Margaret Nduta is a 37-year-old Kenyan national, is scheduled for execution in Vietnam on March 16, 2025, following her conviction for drug trafficking. She was apprehended in July 2023 at Ho Chi Minh City’s Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport with over two kilograms of cocaine concealed in her luggage. 
Nduta maintains that she was deceived by individuals promising employment in Saudi Arabia, only to be rerouted to Vietnam under false pretenses. She claims to have been unaware of the illicit contents in the suitcase she was carrying. 
Her family is urgently appealing to the Kenyan government for intervention to prevent her execution. They have called upon the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to engage diplomatically with Vietnamese authorities to seek clemency or a reduction of her sentence. 
Vietnam enforces stringent anti-drug trafficking laws, often imposing severe penalties, including the death sentence. While the Kenyan government has a mandate to protect its citizens abroad, diplomatic interventions in such cases are complex and subject to the legal frameworks and sovereignty of the host nation.
As of now, there has been no official statement from the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs regarding Nduta’s case. The situation remains critical, with limited time for potential diplomatic efforts to alter the course of events.
I know she did something bad and perhaps she was deceived by those agents without her knowledge but under the ministry Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kenya which is lead by CS Hon Musalia W Mudavadi can make a call to Vietnam authorities and stop the execution of our Kenyan citizen that’s IFF the government of Kenya is in good terms with Vietnam authority.
May she have another life to thank the Almighty God.
Kenyans have written a note to Nduta,here is the note:
Dear Sister,
My heart aches as I write this, knowing the weight of what tomorrow holds. No words can fully capture the depth of sorrow, but I want you to know that you are not alone. Even in this darkest hour, your life, your journey, and your story matter.
You are loved. You are cherished. You are remembered. Though the world may seem cruel, your soul remains untouched, and no judgment of man can take away the light within you.
May you find peace in knowing that beyond this life, there is a place where pain, fear, and sorrow do not exist. I pray that you are embraced by grace, that your heart is eased, and that you find the strength to face tomorrow with dignity.
We mourn, not just for what is to come, but for a system that did not show mercy. But even in pain, we hold onto hope—hope that your story will serve as a lesson, a reminder, and a call for change.
May you go in peace, knowing that many in Kenya and beyond are holding you in their hearts. May you find comfort in the knowledge that love never fades, and your spirit will live on.
With love and prayers,
Legal Analysis of Nduta’s Defense:
Nduta’s claim of innocence rests on the argument that she was unaware she was carrying drugs. However, several legal aspects weaken her defense:
1. Possession and Knowledge in Drug Laws
• In Vietnam, as in many other countries, possession of illegal drugs is enough for conviction, regardless of whether the accused knew about them or not. The law presumes that anyone found in possession of drugs is guilty unless they provide strong evidence to prove otherwise.
• Courts often apply the doctrine of constructive knowledge, meaning she “ought to have known” what she was carrying, especially since she accepted money and fully paid travel expenses.
2. Red Flags in Her Defense
• Advance Payment (Sh167,000) and Free Flights: Receiving a large sum of money upfront for a seemingly simple task raises suspicion. Courts may see this as proof that she knowingly engaged in a risky transaction.
• Multiple Security Checkpoints Passed: If the drugs were not detected at JKIA, Ethiopia, and Qatar, it suggests careful concealment—something an innocent person might not be expected to do.
• The “John” Defense: Claiming that a mysterious Kenyan man named “John” hired her is a common narrative used by drug mules to shift blame. Without evidence identifying “John,” this defense is weak in court.
3. Burden of Proof and Legal Challenges
• In Vietnam, burden of proof often shifts to the accused in drug cases. She must provide credible evidence that she truly had no knowledge of the drugs, which is difficult.
• Lack of due diligence—Why didn’t she check the suitcase? Courts will question why she did not inspect the contents, as a reasonable person would be expected to.
4. Potential Legal Outcomes
• Conviction & Death Penalty: Given Vietnam’s strict drug laws, if the court believes she knowingly transported drugs, she faces execution.
• Life Sentence (if lucky): If she can prove some level of deception, the court may reduce the sentence to life imprisonment.
