Fugitive Kevin Kang'ethe extradited to US to face murder charges

Kevin Kinyanjui Kangethe who allegedly killed his girlfriend in the US at Milimani Law Courts, Nairobi, on January 31,2024. [File, Standard]

A Kenyan facing murder charges in the US, has been extradited to Massachusetts to face the law.

Director of Public Prosecutions Renson Ingonga in a statement said Kevin Kang’ethe is set to face first-degree murder charges today.

“The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Renson Ingonga, OGW has successfully secured the extradition of Kevin Kang’ethe to the United States of America.”

Ingonga said that Kang’ethe, 40, left the country on September 1, 2024, aboard a Department of Justice jet.

"Kang'ethe left Nairobi on September 1, 2024, and is set to face the charge of murder at Suffolk Superior Court in Pemberton Square, Boston on September 3, 2024," the DPP said.

Kang’ethe is accused of murdering his girlfriend Margaret Mbitu whose body was found with stab wounds inside a car in the parking of Boston’s Logan Airport in November 2023.

“I wish to reiterate my commitment and support whenever needed to the United States of America and in particular the prosecution team as they proceed with the next phase of the case,” said Ingonga.

Investigators in the US believe that Kang’ethe who resided in Boston allegedly killed Mbitu, 31, who was from Massachusetts on October 30 and November 1, before flying to Kenya.

Mbitu’s family at the time said that their loved one was last seen on October 30 at her Halifax workplace.

They also noted that she had driven more than 62 kilometres to go see him.

On November 3, US authorities released Kang’ethe’s photos one of which was captured by the airport’s security cameras saying they were looking for him in connection with the murder.
After taking the 16-hour flight into Kenya, he was arrested on January 30, while clubbing in a Westlands club after an Interpol bounty was placed on his head.

“United States law enforcement, the Kenyan Directorate of Criminal Investigations, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions have been working side by side to locate and capture the fugitive,” said the US Embassy at the time.

He was taken to the Milimani Magistrates Court where Zainab Abdul allowed police to detain him for 30 days at the Muthaiga Police Station to conclude investigations.

DPP Ingonga told court that his office had received an application from the Chelsea District Court for a criminal complaint charging Kang’ethe with murder.

Ingonga also received an arrest warrant against him with the court ordering that he should be extradited to the US to face justice upon arrest.

Kang’ethe escaped from Muthaiga Police Station forcing police to launch a manhunt for days.

As a result, four police officers who were on duty on the material day were interdicted and arrested alongside his lawyer.

Kang’ethe was arrested days later in a relative's house in Ngong, Kajiado county.

Ingonga’s application to have him extradited to the US was allowed by Milimani Magistrate Lucas Onyina on August 1, 2024.

“The upshot of the foregoing is that, based on the findings made based on the reasons above, there are established reasons to justify the surrender of the respondent to the United States of America to face the offence of first-degree murder, in violation of Massachusetts General Law,” ruled Onyina.