Police rearrested Kevin Kinyanjui Kang’ethe, the suspect wanted by the United States (US) authorities for the murder of his girlfriend.
Nairobi Police Chief Adamson Bungei confirmed that Kang’ethe was captured in Ngong, Kajiado County on Tuesday, February 13 by DCI’s Special Operations Unit after a five-day manhunt.
“We have re-arrested him. He is in custody, and we thank all that helped in this,” said Bungei.
Kang’ethe was brought back to Nairobi under heavy security ahead of arraignment.
According to reports, the detectives had narrowed down on Ngong after all indications showed Kang’ethe was in the area.
The suspect escaped from Muthaiga Police station on February 7 while awaiting implementation of extradition application by the US government.
Reports revealed that Kang’ethe left the police station and boarded a matatu to an unknown destination.
His arrest came after the DCI arrested two people believed to have helped Kang’ethe escape from police custody.
Speaking to the press before the rearrest, DCI Boss Mohamed Amin explained that the two were arrested in efforts to trace the suspect.
“The issue of Kelvin Kang’ethe do fa so good we have progressed well. As of today, we have arrested two people who facilitated the escape of the fugitive,” he said.
Kang’ethe’s brother and his girlfriend were reportedly arrested on Monday, February 12, night and included in the investigations.
The DCI confirmed that the suspect had visited the counties of Machakos, Kiambu and Nairobi since his escape from custody.
Kevin Kang’ethe First Arrest
Kang’ethe was arrested at Parklands in Nairobi on Tuesday, January 30.
DCI said he was arraigned at the Milimani Chief Magistrate Court where 30 days custodial orders were granted to allow extradition processes to be completed.
“The court having granted extradition orders and allowing 30 days custodial orders for the processing, the case will be mentioned on March 4, 2024, at Milimani Law Courts,” read the statement.
Also Read: Police Link Kevin Kang’ethe’s Brother to Well Crafted Getaway
Kang’ethe is a suspect in a first-degree murder in violation of the laws of the United States (US) where he is alleged to have murdered Margaret Mbitu in Massachusetts on October 31, 2023.
According to the DCI, he inflicted multiple stabs on the victim’s face and neck before leaving her body in a locked automobile in a parking garage at Boston Logan International Airport.
“Kang’ethe and the late Margaret Mbitu, a home healthcare aid in the town of Halifax, Massachusetts are believed to have been in a relationship before the suspect turned against her allegedly while on a trip to Lowel,” stated the statement.
The Murder
The body of Mbitu, 31, was discovered in early November in a car at a parking garage where Kangethe allegedly killed her.
Mbitu had been reported missing by her family two days before her body was discovered.
She was last seen leaving her job in Halifax on the night of the same day she was reported missing.
Also Read: DCI Arrests Two in Connection with Kelvin Kang’ethe’s Escape
“Maggie was last seen at 11 pm on Monday, October 30 in Halifax leaving work. She was wearing black pants with a grey shirt and a black cardigan. Her straight black hair was in a ponytail, and she was driving a white Toyota Venza,” read the Missing person’s poster shared by Ms Mbitu’s friends on Facebook.
Her car was later found parked inside the Central Parking garage at the airport two days later.
The late Mbitu worked at BAMSI organization based in Brockton and she was in the process of ending her relationship with Kangethe before the incident.
