The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has objected to the release of murder suspect Kevin Kangethe on bail ahead of an extradition hearing before Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina at the Milimani Law Courts.
During the hearing, prosecutors Vincent Monda and Magdaline Nduati highlighted several factors that, in their view, make it inappropriate to grant bail to the suspect.
The prosecution stressed Kangethe’s status as a flight risk, noting his swift departure from the United States following the alleged offence. This action triggered an Interpol red alert and led to an arrest warrant issued by a US court.
Additionally, the severity of the offence – first-degree murder – and the potential lifelong consequences, including life imprisonment without parole, were emphasized by the prosecution.
Furthermore, the court was informed of Kangethe’s behavior, particularly his immediate departure from the United States without a valid reason following the alleged offence. The prosecution argued that this conduct suggests a guilty state of mind.
Prosecutors also pointed out that Kangethe’s legal status had shifted to that of a fugitive criminal under Section 2 of the Extradition (Contiguous and Foreign Countries) Act CAP 76, following his indictment in the United States.
The denial of bail or bond, according to the prosecution, would facilitate Kangethe’s extradition to the United States for trial.
Moreover, prosecutors cited evidence of Kangethe’s presence at the crime scene, such as his possession of the victim’s driver’s license and bank cards, invoking the doctrine of recent possession.
Chief Magistrate Onyina is scheduled to deliver the ruling on this application on April 18, 2024, at the Milimani Law Courts.
