She was detained in July 2023 after unknowingly carrying a bag containing illegal substances.
Despite her claims of innocence, she now awaits a final decision on her fate.
“I had no idea what was in the bag,” Nduta reportedly told authorities. “I was only delivering it to someone.”
Vietnam is known for its strict drug laws, with smuggling offenses carrying heavy punishments, including life imprisonment and execution.
While the Kenyan government has stepped in to appeal for clemency, Nduta’s family remains anxious.
“We are praying every day that she will be spared,” a relative shared. “We hope the Kenyan government will help bring her back.”
As Nduta’s case unfolds, former prisoners have described the grim conditions inside Vietnam’s jails. Fr Paul Van Chi, a Catholic priest from Vietnam, spent four years imprisoned for composing and promoting religious hymns.
His experiences paint a dark picture of the country’s prison system.
“It was like living in hell,” Fr Paul recalled. “I was locked in a tiny cell, alone, in complete darkness. They tried to break my spirit.”
He described being denied food, water, and medical care. At one point, he weighed only 34 kilograms and believed he would die.
“I told God, ‘Okay, I’ll die here.’ But somehow, I survived,” he said.
Another former detainee, Michael Nguyen, an American citizen, was imprisoned for allegedly attempting to overthrow the government.
He was sentenced to 12 years but was released after two. He described the conditions as unbearable.
“Every day felt like a death sentence,” Nguyen stated. “You sleep on the floor, no blanket, no clean water. The silence and darkness drive you mad.”
Human rights groups, including Amnesty International, have raised concerns over the treatment of prisoners in Vietnam.
Reports indicate that inmates face beatings, electric shocks, and psychological torture. Many are locked in solitary confinement for months or even years.
Despite these reports, the Vietnamese government denies any mistreatment.
Officials insist that prisons operate lawfully and that all inmates are treated fairly.
However, they have not allowed independent investigators to assess prison conditions.
“We must be cautious,” a government official said. “Ignorance of the law is never an excuse.”
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