Murder suspect Kevin Kang'ethe extradited to the US

Former fugitive Kevin Kang'ethe has been extradited to the US to face murder charges for allegedly killing Maragert Mbitu in October 2023.

"Mr Kang'ethe left Nairobi on September1, 2024, and will be arraigned in Suffolk Superior Court in Pemberton Square, Boston on September 3, 2024 on a charge of murder," the DPP said in a statement on Monday.

His extradition was granted by Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina, who ruled on August 1, 2024, that he should be extradited to face a charge of murder in the first degree under the Massachusetts General Laws.

It also comes a few weeks after Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) director Christopher Wray visited the country, during which he expressed concern about the suspect's escape from custody.

"I want to reiterate my commitment and support to the United States of America, and in particular to the prosecution team, as they move forward with the next phase of the case. We offer our support and prayers to the family of the late Margaret Mbitu," DPP Renson Ingonga said in the statement.

The suspect returned to Kenya in 2023 after allegedly commiting the heinous act of killing Mbitu.

He was arrested in Nairobi before fleeing and being re-arrested.

On July 31, 2024, a Nairobi court ordered Kang'ethe's extradition to face trial in the US for the alleged murder of Mbitu.

In his ruling, Mr Onyina found that the alleged offence of murder to which the extradition request and authority to proceed related met the list test.

The court further said the material before it established a link between Kang'ethe and the alleged offence of murder in the first degree and the court, which is not a trial court, was not mandated to conduct a trial to determine his guilt or otherwise.

"That will be the mandate of the trial court, not this court, which is handling this extradition case," Mr Onyina said.

The ruling said there were established grounds to warrant the respondent's extradition to the United States to face trial for the offence of murder in the first degree in contravention of Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 265, Section 1.

"The application of prayer number 2 is therefore granted, which specifically orders that the respondent be returned and/or transported out of Kenya and surrendered to the United States of America to face the charge of alleged murder in the first degree in violation of Massachusetts General Law, Chapter 265, Section 1, for which he has been formally charged by criminal complaint in Case No, 23 CR-2559 in the District Court in Chelsea, Massachusetts," the judge ruled.