Kenyan police announced on Wednesday the successful recapture of Kevin Kang’ethe, a suspect implicated in the murder of his girlfriend in the United States.
Kang’ethe, who had escaped from custody, was originally detained pending extradition to the US over the death of Margaret Mbitu, whose body was discovered in a Boston airport car park last year.
Nairobi police chief Adamson Bungei confirmed Kang’ethe’s re-arrest, disclosing that he was found hiding at a relative’s residence on the outskirts of Nairobi late Tuesday after an extensive manhunt.
“He will now be taken to court to face charges of escaping from lawful custody as he awaits extradition,” Bungei stated.
The escape had caused embarrassment for the police, with Bungei acknowledging the lapse in security. Following Mbitu’s murder, an arrest warrant was issued for Kang’ethe, who had fled to Kenya from the United States and was apprehended in late January.
Kang’ethe’s escape occurred last week when he was removed from his cell for a meeting with his lawyer. He managed to flee during this encounter, prompting a joint manhunt by US and Kenyan authorities.
In connection with the escape, four police officers, two relatives, and the lawyer have been arrested and are currently in custody. The suspect will now face additional charges related to his escape before potential extradition proceedings.
