Kevin Kinyanjui Kang’ethe, an American fugitive accused of murder, was expected to appear in court today, February 19, for a crucial hearing regarding his extradition to the United States.
However, the proceedings were deferred to Tuesday, February 27, 2024, leaving the family of the victim, Margaret Mbitu, in disbelief.
Relatives of Mbitu popularly known as Maggie, who was allegedly murdered by Kang’ethe and found lifeless inside a vehicle at a Boston airport, arrived at Milimani High Court prepared for the hearing.
They expressed frustration at the lack of communication regarding the change in the court date.
“No one communicated to us about the change of date, and that is why we came here,” lamented a relative identified only as Muthoni, highlighting the confusion surrounding the scheduling of the proceedings.
Kang’ethe’s dark intentions came to light when he informed Mbitu of his plans to permanently return to Kenya, leaving behind his life in the US for her.
Tragically, Mbitu was unaware of Kang’ethe’s ulterior motives, which allegedly led to her untimely demise.
Investigators revealed that Kang’ethe meticulously planned his escape, purchasing tickets for a flight to Nairobi shortly before committing the murder.
For three months, he managed to evade authorities, frequenting entertainment spots in Westlands and Kiambu Road.
However, his luck ran out when he was apprehended leaving an entertainment venue in Westlands by detectives who had been tracking him since the US issued a warrant for his arrest.
Kang’ethe was subsequently arraigned in court, where the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) was granted 30 days to facilitate his extradition to the USA.
After briefly escaping custody at Muthaiga Police Station, Kang’ethe was re-arrested thanks to a tip-off from his relatives. He had been residing in an apartment owned by a cousin, with plans to evade authorities and escape justice.
As Kang’ethe awaits the extradition process at Muthaiga Police Station, the victim’s family continues to seek justice for their beloved Mbitu, whose life was tragically cut short.
