Details Emerge on How Murder Suspect Kevin Kang’ethe Escaped from Police Custody to his His Second Arrest
Written by moradio on 14 February 2024
NAIROBI, Kenya, February 14- New details have surfaced regarding the apprehension of Kevin Kinyanjui Kang’ethe, a wanted murder suspect who had fled from police custody on February 7.
Detectives successfully rearrested him in Ngong, Kajiado, following an extensive intelligence-led operation within the Ngong Township area.
The fugitive had initially been detained after a thorough intelligence-led maneuver in Ngong Township, Kajiado. He had escaped from the confines of Muthaiga police station, where he awaited extradition to the United States to answer charges of first-degree murder.
According to sources familiar with the operation, police received a tip-off suggesting that Kang’ethe had sought refuge at his cousin’s residence in Embulbul on Tuesday evening. Learning that his brother in Kenya and a girlfriend had been apprehended in Ololua and Westlands respectively, he had been evading law enforcement.
In a bid to recapture Kang’ethe, detectives had been diligently tracking down individuals who had been in contact with him since his escape. Among those detained was his cousin, a lawyer, who was later released on police bond.
Reports indicate that on Monday, Kang’ethe had utilized a mobile phone provided to him to contact several relatives before switching off the device as he moved from one location to another. Detectives, who were determined to locate him, were confident he was in Ngong, especially after he had withdrawn money from an agent in the area.
On Tuesday night, Kang’ethe arrived at a relative’s residence seeking refuge. Initially hesitant, the relative eventually contacted authorities upon suspicion, leading to Kang’ethe’s apprehension without resistance. Both Kang’ethe and the relative were taken into custody for further questioning.
Nairobi police chief, Adamson Bungei, hailed the arrest as a significant breakthrough in a case that had raised widespread concerns. Plans are underway to arraign Kang’ethe in court on charges of illegal escape pending extradition proceedings to the United States, where he faces serious criminal allegations.
Kang’ethe’s escape from Muthaiga police station had stunned many, given the seriousness of the charges against him. He had been detained in connection to the first-degree murder of Margaret Mbitu in October 2023 and was awaiting extradition to face trial in Massachusetts. Despite renouncing his U.S. citizenship, extradition proceedings were underway, with a Nairobi court granting a 30-day detention order to facilitate the process.
In the wake of Kang’ethe’s escape, four police officers stationed at Muthaiga Police Station during the incident have been interdicted. The search for Kang’ethe had mobilized numerous detectives, highlighting the gravity of the situation and the determination of law enforcement to ensure justice prevails.
