Murder suspect Kevin Kangethe has been apprehended after days of evading authorities following his escape from Muthaiga police cells.
Kangethe, accused of a brutal homicide at a United States airport before fleeing to Kenya, was reportedly captured in Ngong on Tuesday, according to sources close to his family. The arrest, which occurred just after 11 p.m. under tight security, brings an end to his brief period on the run.
Kangethe’s escape from Muthaiga police station raised serious concerns about the efficacy of the country’s security measures. The incident unfolded around 5:30 p.m. last Wednesday, right in front of the station commander, who was caught off guard by the commotion as officers attempted to pursue the fleeing suspect.
According to a police report detailing the escape, a man identifying himself as John Maina Ndegwa arrived at the station around 4 p.m., claiming to be Kangethe’s personal lawyer and requesting a meeting with his client.
The officers, trusting the visitor’s credentials, removed Kangethe from his cell and left him alone with the supposed lawyer in a separate room. However, in a daring move, Kangethe managed to flee the premises, leaving the lawyer behind.
The escape occurred while Chief Inspector Esther Muchomba, the station commander, was occupied with a meeting. Despite the efforts of officers to chase him down along Thika Super Highway, Kangethe eluded capture.
The circumstances surrounding how Kangethe outsmarted armed officers in broad daylight remain shrouded in mystery. Consequently, four police officers on duty during the escape—Elijah Kipkiror, James Maina, Ann Wanjiku, and Hassan Saman—have been detained for interrogation.
Furthermore, the lawyer, John Maina Ndegwa, was also been taken into police custody for questioning.
Kangethe faces charges in connection with the killing of a 31-year-old Kenyan-born woman based in Whitman, Massachusetts, whose body was found inside a vehicle at Boston’s Logan Airport last November.
Following his initial arrest in Nairobi, Kangethe appeared in court on a miscellaneous application, where detectives were granted 30 days to detain him pending a decision on his potential extradition to the United States to face murder charges.
