A court in Kenya on Thursday ordered the extradition of Kevin Kang’ethe to the United States, where he will face first-degree murder charges for the death of his girlfriend, Margaret Mbitu, in November 2023. The Kenyan national is set to be tried in Massachusetts.
Mbitu, a nurse, was found dead with multiple stab wounds in her SUV, parked in a garage at Boston’s Logan Airport, just two days after her family reported her missing. Authorities discovered that Kang’ethe had fled the country on a flight from Logan to Kenya a day before her body was discovered.
Following a three-month international search, Kang’ethe was arrested in Kenya but managed to escape from custody within a week. The escape involved a mini-van getaway, prompting a large-scale manhunt by Kenyan police. He was eventually located at a relative’s house in Nairobi and re-arrested.
In addition to Kang’ethe’s arrest, four police officers, two of Kang’ethe’s relatives, and a lawyer were also detained, accused of facilitating his initial escape. The extradition ruling follows a detailed investigation by Kenyan authorities, who had to untangle a network of alleged accomplices aiding the suspect.
Prosecutors in Nairobi testified that at the time of Kang’ethe’s arrest, he was in possession of items belonging to Mbitu, including her driver’s license, a Bank of America debit card, and a visa card, further linking him to the crime.
The decision to extradite Kang’ethe marks a significant step in the cross-border legal proceedings that have unfolded since Mbitu’s murder. This development reflects the ongoing cooperation between Kenyan and U.S. authorities to bring the suspect to justice and address the crime committed on U.S. soil.
As the legal process continues, both nations are expected to collaborate closely to ensure that Kang’ethe is held accountable under U.S. law, providing a semblance of justice to Mbitu’s family.
Source: myjoyonline.com
