KEVIN KANG’ETHE ARRESTED FOLLOWING POLICE ESCAPE

International fugitive Kevin Kang’ethe, who had previously escaped from police custody, was once again arrested on February 13 at 11 pm i...

International fugitive Kevin Kang’ethe, who had previously escaped from police custody, was once again arrested on February 13 at 11 pm in Ngong, Kajiado County. Kang’ethe is suspected of killing his girlfriend, Kenyan-born US based nurse Margaret ‘Maggie’ Mbitu last year, and later fleeing to Kenya. Maggie Mbitu, 31, initially went missing on Monday November 30, 2023, after leaving work, and was found two days later stabbed and slashed to death inside her vehicle- a white Toyota Venza parked at the Boston Logan Airport Central Parking Garage. She dedicated over a decade to working at BAMSI, a company specializing in group homes, providing care to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Rose Mbitu, Maggie’s mother, revealed her daughter was trying to end her relationship with Kang’ethe.

Kang’ethe was initially arrested on January 30 in the Westlands area of Nairobi and held at Muthaiga Police Station, awaiting extradition to the US to face murder charges. While detained, he made a daring escape by walking out of the police station, jumping into a van, and disappearing.

The 40-year-old Kevin Kang’ethe had been hiding at a relative’s residence, and was arrested nearly a week later. The police arrested two individuals, including his brother Brian Kang’ethe, who allegedly assisted in the escape from police custody.

“We have arrested two people whom we suspect facilitated the disappearance of that fugitive. We shall take action against all persons who aided or abetted the escape of Kevin from police custody.“
The Director of DCI, Mohammed Amin said.

Kevin Kang’ethe Escapes Police Custody

Kangethe escaped from police custody on Wednesday, February 7, around 4 pm. He had been taken out of the cells at Muthaiga Police Station by officers who heeded a request from John Maina Ndegwa, a man who claimed to be his attorney. After being brought to an office and left unattended for a brief period, Kangethe walked out of the police station and left the alleged lawyer behind. Police officers tried to chase him, but Kang’ethe ran into a minivan and disappeared.

Investigators, upon realizing the escape, arrested the four officers on duty- cell sentry Elijah Kipkiror, report personnel James Maina as well as station guards Ann Wanjiku and Hassan Saman. The alleged lawyer John Maina Ndegwa was also arrested in connection with the incident. Police boss Adamson Bungei labeled the escape as embarrassing, particularly considering the prior commendation from the US embassy for the January arrest of Kang’ethe, who had been in hiding. Bungei remarked, “We have arrested the officers who were on duty when he escaped to explain how it happened. It is just embarrassing to us.”
The prosecution has requested the court to transfer Kevin Kang’ethe Kinyanjui to the Industrial Area Remand Prison due to concerns about the potential risk of the suspect escaping from police custody once again. The court is yet to deliver its ruling, which is expected this afternoon.