IN SHORT: Several Facebook users claim that Margaret Nduta, a Kenyan imprisoned in Vietnam on drug-related charges, has returned home. However, this is not true, and the photo used to support this claim has been manipulated. She is still in jail in Vietnam, awaiting an appeal hearing.
A photo is making the rounds on Facebook with the claim that it shows Margaret Nduta back in Kenya after being released from Vietnam.
Nduta, 37, was sentenced to death in Vietnam after being arrested in July 2023 at Ho Chi Minh City Airport. Authorities found more than two kilograms of cocaine concealed in her suitcase. She claimed that she was unaware of the drugs, stating that the bag had been given to her by an agent.
Initially scheduled for 17 March 2025, her execution was paused following diplomatic intervention by the Kenyan government. Kenyan officials confirmed that her execution had been stayed pending appeal.
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Vietnam enforces strict anti-drug laws. Trafficking more than 600 grams of heroin or cocaine can result in the death penalty. Her case attracted widespread attention in Kenya, prompting public appeals and diplomatic initiatives.
The caption of the circulating photo reads: "Breaking News The lady is back from vietnam (Margaret Nduta). God is wonderful."
The photo shows Nduta dressed in casual attire: black trousers, a cropped top, a beige jacket and a beanie hat. She is standing confidently beside a large suitcase and a floral carry-on bag, suggesting that she is at an airport or transport hub, possibly about to travel or having just arrived.
In the top right corner of the photo is an inset image of Nduta in a navy blue uniform. She is seated with a serious expression in what appears to be a legal setting, such as a courtroom or police station. This contrasts sharply with her appearance in the main image.
This photo has also been posted here and here. (Note; See more instances at the end of this report.)
But is Nduta back in Kenya? We checked.
Manipulated photo
The media widely reported the story of her conviction and Kenya's subsequent diplomatic intervention. If she had indeed been released, it would have made headlines. However, we found no credible reports or official confirmation of this.
A Google reverse image search of the photo led us to the original, showing a different woman and not Nduta. The photo was first posted on Instagram a week earlier by a user who was at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi at the time.
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The user captioned the photo: "And yes, Lagos called! Let's see what it holds."
Nduta's face has been superimposed onto the image to create the false impression that she has returned. Nduta and her story have often been the target of false information.
The doctored photo has also been posted here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here and here.
