DPP commences extradition proceedings against Kevin Kang’ethe
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has formally filed a request for the extradition to the United States of America (USA) of a Kenyan fugitive being sought over the murder of his fiancé.
State prosecutor Vincent Monda requested Milimani chief magistrate Lucas Onyina to endorse a warrant of arrest issued by the homicide division of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) foreign affairs for the arrest of Kevin Adam Kinyanjui Kang’ethe.
The DPP also sought the court’s directions in the manner this matter will proceed but vehemently rejected the release of the suspect on bond as prayed by the defence.
“Your honor the court gave the investigative officer 30 days to hold him in custody and the bond application at this stage is invalid, we pray the suspect remains in custody until the matter is determined,” said Mr. Monda.
The defense team had requested the court to release the suspect on bond pending the extradition hearing, but their plea was rejected and the court directed them to be served with relevant documents and respond.
The DPP has filed an affidavit for Kang’ethe to remain in custody waiting for the hearing of the extradition.
The court ordered the DPP to serve the defense by January 31, 2024, for them to respond on February 6, 2024.
“The defense be served with the affidavit of the DPP which was filed on January 31, 2024, and file their response by Monday,” said the magistrate.
The magistrate directed the issue of bond by the defense to be canvassed on February 6.
Kang’ethe is accused of murdering his girlfriend in the US in October 2024.
He is said to have locked her body in a vehicle parked at a garage at Boston Logan International Airport before he fled from the United States.
The suspect was produced before the Milimani senior principal magistrate Zainabu Abdul about the gruesome murder of Margaret Mbitu.
In her ruling, the magistrate said the charges against the suspect are serious in nature and police need to be given time to complete the Investigation diary,
“The application by the DPP for the detention of the suspect for 30 days has merit and is hereby allowed,” said the magistrate.
When applying for the detention, the DPP said the suspect is being investigated for the offense of first-degree Murder, in violation of Massachusetts General Law (GL), Chapter (C) 265 section (1) under the law of the United States.
The suspect was arrested on January 30, 2024, within Parklands in Nairobi county and detained at Gigiri police station from where he was arraigned in court.
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