How Kevin Kangethe was able to escape jail

New revelations have emerged regarding the escape of Kevin Adam Kinyanjui Kangethe, a man awaiting extradition on a Massachusetts warrant for allegedly killing his girlfriend.

Kangethe managed to slip out of a police station cell, board a matatu, and escape towards Thika on the evening of February 7, according to police reports.

The escape triggered an immediate search for Kangethe, leading to the detention of four police officers who were on duty during the incident.

Additionally, four police officers and a lawyer were arrested in connection with the escape and are assisting in the ongoing investigation.

Details indicate that the escape occurred during a meeting between Kangethe and a lawyer at the police station around 5 pm.

The lawyer, identified as John Maina Ndegwa, requested to speak with Kangethe ahead of his planned extradition case hearing on February 9.

After being removed from his cell, Kangethe and the lawyer held a meeting in one of the anti-crime offices.

During the meeting, Kangethe escaped, leaving the lawyer behind. The police officers realized the escape when they returned to the room and found the lawyer alone.

A fresh search began immediately, and Kangethe was seen fleeing towards Thika Road.

He managed to board a matatu at a bus stop, evading the pursuing officers. Efforts to trace the matatu and its crew were underway, with Nairobi police chief Adamson Bungei confirming a renewed search for Kangethe.

Kangethe, aged 40, had been detained pending a ruling on his extradition to face a first-degree murder charge in connection with the death of Margaret Mbitu on October 31, 2023.

He had left her body in a car at Logan International Airport and fled to Kenya.

Despite Kangethe renouncing his U.S. citizenship, the court had approved his detention for 30 days during the extradition process. The escape occurred just days before a scheduled hearing related to the U.S. warrant and extradition proceedings.

Prosecutor Vincent Monda had requested court endorsement of the U.S. warrant and directions for extradition on February 2.

The suspect's lawyer sought directions on surrendering Kangethe to the U.S. while opposing his continued detention.

Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina was expected to provide further directions on the case and issue orders related to the bond issue on February 9.

Margaret Mbitu, a healthcare aide in Halifax, was last seen leaving work on October 30, and her disappearance prompted a widespread search before the connection to Kangethe was established.