American citizen in Kenya agrees to extradition to face justice in US

American authorities accuse the suspect of fleeing the country to evade prosecution, an accusation he admitted before court.

An American citizen arrested in Nairobi and wanted in the United States on multiple charges, including murder, has indicated his consent to be extradited to Minnesota to face trial.

The individual, who has been held at Gigiri police station since his arrest, made the declaration on Tuesday during a brief appearance before a Nairobi magistrate for the mention of his extradition proceedings.

The court asked him to confirm whether he intended to oppose or consent to the request for his return to the US.

He confirmed his willingness to cooperate, stating he did not wish to delay the matter.

“Yes, your honour, and I would like to go back as soon as possible,” he said.

Court documents indicate that the US District Court for the District of Minnesota has issued charges against him, including third-degree murder, manslaughter, and multiple drug-related offences. US authorities allege that he fled the country to avoid prosecution.

During the proceedings, the suspect stated that he entered Kenya legally in 2022 after boarding an international flight from the US.

When asked how he arrived in the country, he simply replied, “I took a flight and came here.”

Formal extradition proceedings in Kenya were initiated on November 19, 2025, when prosecutors filed a notice of motion seeking his surrender to American authorities.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) confirmed to the court that the request met the legal requirements under Kenyan law, including verification of a valid warrant and clear identification of the individual sought.

"The last time we were before the court, he had indicated that he would not be opposing his extradition to the US, so the judge gave him a chance to confirm whether that is still the position and to file a response to the application, if any," the prosecution told the court.

The magistrate scheduled the next mention for Wednesday, December 17, before the trial court, which will issue the final determination on the extradition request.

Kenya and the United States operate a longstanding extradition framework under a treaty signed in 1931, which remains in force.

The agreement allows for the reciprocal surrender of individuals accused or convicted of serious crimes, including murder, fraud, violent offences, and terrorism.

In Kenya, extradition requests are processed under the Extradition (Contiguous and Foreign Countries) Act (Cap 76), which empowers magistrates to order surrender if the warrant is valid, the offence is covered under the treaty, and the individual before the court is the person sought by the requesting country.

Extradition cases undergo procedural checks to ensure compliance with both domestic law and international obligations.

Once the court issues its final orders, the Cabinet Secretary responsible for internal security executes the surrender, after which arrangements are made with US authorities for transfer and handover.

If the court grants the request next week, the individual could be returned to Minnesota within days to face the charges.