Kevin Kang’ethe has been ordered to be extradited to the United States to face trial for the alleged murder of Margaret Mbitu. The decision was made by Milimani Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina on Wednesday.
In his ruling, Magistrate Onyina stated that the evidence presented meets the necessary legal criteria for extradition.
The court established a connection between Kang’ethe and the charge of first-degree murder under Massachusetts law.
Margaret Mbitu, a U.S.-based nurse was discovered dead in November 2023 inside her car at the Logan International Airport. And this was close to a week after she disappeared while returning home from work.
Kang’ethe who was the deceased’s ex-boyfriends and main suspect in her death fled to Kenya and went into hiding. He also renounced his American citizenship.
After he was arrested the first time, the U.S. Embassy praised Kenyan Police for swift action.
But in a daring move, Kevin Kang’ethe ran away from police custody. But he was re-arrested close to a week later.
If Kang’ethe had not renounced his American citizenship, there would be no need for an extradition hearing.
Magistrate Onyina clarified that the court’s role was not to determine Kang’ethe’s guilt but to confirm whether the extradition request was valid.
The trial to decide Kang’ethe’s guilt or innocence will take place in the U.S.
The ruling allows for Kang’ethe to be surrendered to the United States, where he will face charges related to the murder case.
The court found that Kang’ethe was in possession of items belonging to the deceased, including Margaret Mbitu’s driving license, a debit card, and a visa card, which supported the link between him and the crime.
The Director of Public Prosecutions had previously requested Kang’ethe’s extradition. Prosecutor Vincent Monda explained that the role of the Kenyan court was to verify the link between the suspect and the alleged crime, not to judge the merits of the case.
The case will now proceed in the U.S. District Court in Chelsea, Massachusetts, where Kang’ethe will face trial for the murder of Margaret Mbitu.
By Vivian K.