Fugitive charged with murder in Massachusetts faces extradition from Kenya

A judge in Nairobi, Kenya, has made a decision to extradite Kevin Kangethe, 42, back to the United States to stand trial for the purported murder of his girlfriend, 31-year-old Margaret Mbitu, in November 2023. The body of Mbitu was discovered in an SUV at Boston's Logan Airport, and Kangethe, who had been the subject of a three-month international manhunt, is accused of fleeing to Kenya.

International Pursuit

The case, which sparked a significant international pursuit, saw Kangethe being apprehended in Kenya, only to escape custody a mere week later. Despite the embarrassment faced by the prison authorities, a subsequent manhunt and investigation led to his recapture at a relative's residence in Nairobi. The judge's ruling was influenced by prosecutors' testimony, which indicated that at the time of Kangethe's arrest, he was in possession of various items belonging to Mbitu, including her driver's license, Bank of America debit card, and a visa card. This evidence formed the basis for the extradition request and the endorsement of a Massachusetts arrest warrant.

The legal proceedings in Nairobi have been closely monitored, with the prosecutors making a compelling case for Kangethe's return to the United States to stand trial for the alleged first-degree murder. The extradition order represents a significant development in the pursuit of justice for Margaret Mbitu and her grieving family.