Kevin Kang'ethe: Man Accused Of Killing Girlfriend Denies Murder Charges In US Court

• Kevin Kang'ethe was extradited to the United States nearly one year after he fled to Kenya following the alleged murder of his then-girlfriend, Margaret Mbitu
• Assistant District Attorney Mark Lee revealed that Mbitu sustained 10 wounds in the face and neck alone
• Kang'ethe's lawyer said he had not been provided with evidence to the claims and maintained his client's innocence

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

United States - Kevin Kang'ethe is the primary suspect in the murder of his girlfriend, Margaret Mbitu, whose body was discovered at the Logan Airport in Massachusetts.

Following the incident, Kang'ethe fled to Kenya and was subsequently arrested while revelling at a venue in Westlands, Nairobi.

After spending several months in detention at the Muthaiga Police Station, he was extradited to the US on Sunday, September 1, 2024, to face murder charges in Suffolk Superior Court.

“Kevin Kangethe tried to get away with murder. After a long road with many twists and turns, Kang'ethe is now back in Boston to answer for the alleged murder of his girlfriend," said Kimberly Milka, the assistant special agent in charge of the FBI’s Boston Division in a report by Boston.com.

On Tuesday, September 3, Kang'ethe appeared in court, where he pleaded not guilty to the charges of killing and disposing of Mbitu's body.

The court denied him bail, emphasising that the pursuit of justice for Mbitu and her family was just beginning.

Why did Kevin Kang'ethe kill Margaret Mbitu?

Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden suggested that Mbitu's death might be linked to domestic violence.

This claim was supported by Assistant District Attorney Mark Lee, who revealed that Mbitu had sustained 10 wounds to her face and neck, including fatal lacerations to her carotid artery and jugular vein, according to CBS News.

"Ten wounds just to her face and neck alone, including fatal lacerations to her carotid and jugular. Kang'ethe then left her body in the front seat of a heavily tinted car from the moment of her death until some 30 hours later when he drove the car to Logan Airport with Mbitu's body in the front seat, face down, seat reclined. Her body was covered with bags and random items to make it harder to see her and then took a one-way flight to Nairobi, Kenya," Lee said.

Kang'ethe's lawyer, however, argued that they had not yet been provided with evidence and reiterated that Kang'ethe maintains his innocence.

“At this point, I haven’t been provided with any of the evidence the commonwealth claims to have," said the attorney.

Kang'ethe is scheduled to return to court for a pre-trial hearing on November 5.

Meanwhile, Director of Public Prosecution Renson Ingonga pledged to support the FBI as Kang'ethe's case advances.

Kevin Kang'ethe escapes from custody

A week after his arrest in Nairobi, he was reported missing from the highly guarded Muthaiga Police Station.

According to reports, he had left to meet a man who purported to be his lawyer and within a short time, he fled and jumped onto a matatu.

This led to the arrest of his lawyer and four police officers who were linked to the fugitive's escape plan.

What else you need to know about Kevin Kang'ethe

• Following his escape, details emerged that it was an inside job after officers clashed over a deal
• Kevin Kang'ethe was re-arrested in Ngong' after his escape
• Kevin Kang'ethe's kin narrated how they alerted the DCI about Kang'ethe's whereabouts after he escaped from custody

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.