Kenyan Mother Returns Home After Eight Years on Malaysia's Death Row

On December 6, Faith Omollo Oloo, a mother of four, returned to Kenya after enduring an eight-year imprisonment in Malaysia due to her unwitting involvement in a drug trafficking scheme.

Oloo's journey began with a promise of employment as a wholesale trader in Malaysia, which was to offer her a monthly salary of 3,000 Malaysian ringgits (approximately Sh85,000). To alleviate her family's financial struggles, particularly after her youngest son underwent surgery, Oloo raised funds to cover her approximately Sh 200,000 air ticket.

Originally targeting job prospects in China, her plans shifted after she and a companion were deported from Hong Kong due to the absence of legitimate job placements. Following these setbacks, her narrative took an unexpected turn toward Malaysia, facilitated by her friend and her friend’s Nigerian husband. They instructed her to transport a maroon suitcase, claiming it contained items for a newborn baby.

Upon her arrival in Malaysia, however, drug enforcement officials discovered nearly a kilogram of illegal substances concealed within the suitcase’s seams, resulting in her arrest. Initially sentenced to death, Oloo's fate changed when, in late 2024, an appellate court acquitted her based on evidence that she had unknowingly carried the drugs.

Her release from death row not only freed her from incarceration but also enabled her to return to Kenya, where she now confronts the physical and emotional aftermath of her ordeal. Oloo is committed to rebuilding her life and proactively warns others about the potential risks associated with overseas job offers.

In an interview with the Nation, she emphasized the dangers of accepting such opportunities without comprehensive vetting, stating, "I don’t want any person to lead that kind of life again, even my worst enemy." As she seeks to move forward, Oloo hopes that sharing her story will protect others from similar predicaments and raise awareness about the risks of becoming unsuspecting participants in illicit activities.