Nairobi News

Kevin Kinyanjui Kang’ethe, who is wanted in the United States for allegedly murdering his girlfriend, spent his night at the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) headquarters located along Kiambu Road.

Kang’ethe was arrested at 11 pm on February 13, by police officers attached to Ngong Police Station moments after he had just arrived at the home of a relative who is his cousin.

As he was busy interacting with the cousin, police officers who acted on a tip-off raided the house located in Ngong, Kajiado County and apprehended the suspect.

Kang’ethe has been on the run from US authorities since October 31, 2023, when he allegedly killed Margaret Mbitu before boarding a plane to Kenya.

He left behind Mbitu’s body inside his car which was parked at the Boston Logan International Airport.

Nairobi County police boss Adamson Bungei told the Nairobi News that the suspect who escaped lawful custody last week had been re-arrested.

“He has been arrested, he was at Embulbul within Ngong Town. We thank everyone who assisted us leading to his arrest,” said Bungei.

Also read: US fugitive has been traced to Machakos after escape from Muthaiga Police station

A detective privy to the matter told Nairobi News that the suspect had been arrested and plans were underway to take him to the DCI headquarters.

“He has indeed been arrested, he had gone to visit one of his cousins when officers nabbed him,” the sleuth who spoke in confidence as he is not authorised to address the media said.

After the arrest, he was taken to Ngong Police Station and was picked up by sleuths attached to the DCI. They visited the home of his cousin where he had gone moments before he was arrested.

“Immediately DCI sleuths arrived at the station and picked up the suspect and left with him,” our source said.

A total of six top-of-the-range vehicles which included; a Volvo, a Subaru, and a Volkswagen pickup snaked their way along Ngong Road as the murder suspect was being rushed to DCI headquarters.

Once he was arrested, police searched his pockets and he was found with a brand-new phone charger, and some keys. He also had an extra jumper. They have all been kept as exhibits.

The multi-agency team that apprehended him from Ngong Police Station arrived at DCI Headquarters at 1:26 pm.

On February 12, Kang’ethe’s phone signals had been traced to Machakos, Kiambu and Nairobi Counties.

However, three days later he could be traced to Kajiado County and within the Ngong area where plain cloth police officers spent their days trying to trace him.

Kang’ethe was first nabbed on January 30, 2024, while enjoying a drink at a busy joint located in Westlands Sub-County in Nairobi.

He had been detained pending a ruling on whether he should be extradited to face a first-degree murder charge in connection with the murder.

According to Kenyan law, any person who is in lawful custody and escapes is guilty of a misdemeanour as such no appeal shall be allowed in the case of the accused person.