Nairobi — A Kenyan man, Kevin Adam Kinyanjui, accused of murdering his American girlfriend and wanted in the US, has fled custody in Kenya while awaiting extradition.
Kinyanjui escaped from Muthaiga Police Station on Wednesday during a meeting with his lawyer outside the cells, reportedly boarding a matatu (public minibus) and evading pursuing police officers.
Following his escape, Kinyanjui’s lawyer and four police officers on duty were promptly apprehended as authorities launched a search for the fugitive’s whereabouts.
The suspect is sought by a Massachusetts court for the alleged murder of American citizen Margaret Mbitu on October 31, 2023, with her body discovered in a car at Boston airport.
Initially evading arrest for months, Kinyanjui was apprehended in Westlands on January 30, 2023, pending a court ruling on his extradition.
Nairobi Police Chief Adamson Bungei expressed dismay, stating, “This is embarrassing… We have arrested the four officers who were on duty when he escaped to explain how this happened, and we are looking for him.”
Despite being due back in court on February 9, Kinyanjui’s escape has sparked a manhunt, compounded by revelations during a court appearance on January 31, 2023, in which he renounced his American citizenship.
The ramifications of this alarming development reverberate across international borders, fueling urgency and concern for the swift apprehension of the fugitive.
Posted in Metro News Africa
