US commends Kenya over arrest of man wanted for murder

The man is wanted by US police over Margaret Mbitu's murder in Boston.

In Summary

• The man had been on the run since November last year when he flew from the USA to Kenya. 

• Police said he had an Interpol Red Notice on his head.

The late Margaret Mbitu
The late Margaret Mbitu
Image: HANDOUT

The US has commended Kenya for helping apprehend a Kenyan wanted over the murder of a woman in Boston.

The man was arrested on Monday night by police at a club in Westlands following a tip-off.

“Embassy Nairobi commends the efforts of Kenyan law enforcement for apprehending Kenyan fugitive Kevin Kangethe, suspected to have murdered Margaret Mbitu in Massachusetts sometime between October 30 and November 4, 2023,” the US Embassy said in a statement.

The man had been on the run since November last year when he flew from the USA to Kenya. 

Police said he had an Interpol Red Notice on his head.

“We have a man believed to be Kevin Kangethe Kinyanjui who is wanted in the US over murder. We are waiting for more profiling to know the way forward,” a senior officer at the Gigiri police station said.

He said they had informed the DCI and were waiting for identifiers from the US to help facilitate identification of the suspect.

The statement from the US Embassy in Nairobi now serves to clarify that the suspect’s identity has been confirmed.

“United States law enforcement, the Kenyan Directorate of Criminal Investigations, and the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions have been working side by side to locate and capture the fugitive,” the statement signed by press officer Andrew Veveiros said.

“The United States and Kenya are committed to strengthening law enforcement cooperation to apprehend criminal offenders, eliminate criminal activities, and advance justice.”

A warrant of arrest against the suspect was issued on November 2, after Massachusetts State Police found the body of 31-year-old Margaret in a car at Boston’s Logan Airport Central Parking garage the night before.

Margaret was last seen leaving work in Halifax around 11 pm on October 30.

Her mother, Rose Mbitu, told the media in the US that her daughter was planning to break up with the suspect.

At 6.30 pm on November 1, 2023, police officers in Boston found Margaret’s car with her body inside.

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