A photo claiming to show Margaret Nduta back in Kenya is doing the rounds on social media. But the image is false—and the story behind it is far more serious.
Nduta, a 37-year-old woman from Murang’a County, remains on death row in Vietnam after being convicted of smuggling cocaine into the country. The viral image, which appears to show her reunited with family, has been digitally altered, according to officials close to the case.
“This photo is fake. My sister is still in Vietnam,” said Wambui Macharia, Nduta’s twin, speaking by phone from their family home in Karikwe village. “It’s cruel to share such lies when we are still praying for her life.”
The Arrest
Nduta was arrested in July 2023 at Tân Sơn Nhất International Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Authorities found more than two kilograms of cocaine hidden in a false compartment in her suitcase. She had been travelling from Kenya, allegedly en route to Laos.
On 6 March 2025, a Vietnamese court sentenced her to death for drug trafficking—a charge that carries the harshest penalties in the country.
Her Side of the Story
Nduta told the court she was unaware of the drugs. She said a man named “John,” a fellow Kenyan, had given her the suitcase and paid her $1,300 to deliver it to someone in Laos. She claimed she did not pack the bag herself.
“I didn’t know what was inside,” she told the court during her trial, according to sources familiar with the proceedings. “I was just asked to deliver it.”
Her family supports her claims, saying Nduta had never travelled abroad before and may have been taken advantage of. “She’s not a criminal,” said her mother, Purity Wangari. “She was tricked.”
A Race Against Time
Her execution was originally set for 17 March this year. But urgent diplomatic appeals from the Kenyan government led to a temporary suspension. Officials from Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed they had made direct contact with their counterparts in Hanoi.
“We are pursuing all diplomatic channels available,” said Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei. “Our focus is to bring her home, if not to secure clemency.”
A delegation from Kenya also visited Nduta in prison earlier this year. According to their report, she is being treated humanely and is in stable health.
Public Support and Political Pressure
Back home, pressure is building. Several MPs have urged President William Ruto to intervene more forcefully. “We must do all we can to save her life,” said Senator Richard Onyonka during a recent parliamentary session.
There is growing public sympathy for Nduta, especially as questions swirl about how she ended up with the suitcase. Campaigns have sprung up online calling for justice and urging Vietnam to reconsider the sentence.
At the same time, some legal experts warn that Vietnam’s drug laws leave little room for appeals. “It’s one of the strictest in Asia,” said international law analyst Susan Muli. “Even minor trafficking cases can lead to death sentences.”
Fake News Compounds the Pain
In the middle of all this, the viral photo has only deepened the family’s anguish.
“That picture gives people false hope,” said Nduta’s cousin, who asked not to be named. “It’s hard enough dealing with this nightmare. Then we have to see lies being shared as if it’s a joke.”
Government officials have also dismissed the image as fake. “There is no truth to reports that she has returned to Kenya,” a senior Foreign Affairs officer confirmed on Monday. “We urge the public not to spread misinformation.”
What Happens Next?
The appeal process in Vietnam is ongoing. It is unclear when a final decision will be made. In the meantime, Nduta remains in detention, awaiting word on whether her life will be spared.
Her family hopes for a breakthrough. But for now, they ask for compassion—and for people to stop spreading rumours.
“Before you share anything online, think of the people affected,” said her sister. “We just want her to come home alive.”
