In a significant breakthrough, authorities have arrested Kevin Kangethe, the prime suspect in the murder of Maggie Mbitu at Boston’s airport, in Nairobi, Kenya. Kangethe, a Boston-area man, had fled the country shortly after the killing and had been on the run for three months. The arrest was made after an undercover officer spotted Kangethe at a nightclub in Nairobi and positively identified him. Kangethe did not resist arrest and was found in possession of his passport, confirming his identity.
Mbitu’s body was discovered in Kangethe’s SUV in a parking garage at Boston Logan International Airport on November 1. She had slash wounds on her face and neck. Massachusetts State Police had obtained a warrant for Kangethe’s arrest on a murder charge. The arrest in Nairobi was made possible after someone alerted the police about a man resembling the suspect at the nightclub. Undercover officers approached Kangethe, interrogated him, and positively identified him through their conversation.
Kevin Hayden, District Attorney of Suffolk County, expressed gratitude to the US State Department, the FBI, the state police, the Kenyan government, and Kenyan law enforcement agencies for their efforts in facilitating the arrest. Kangethe had arrived in Kenya last fall and had gone into hiding in Nairobi’s suburbs while staying in touch with friends and relatives, including those in the United States.
Kenya has an extradition treaty with the United States, and the nation’s director of public prosecutions confirmed that a formal extradition request had been received. The director stated that there is “sufficient evidence” against Kangethe, meeting the threshold for his extradition. Kangethe’s attorney plans to challenge the extradition request, asserting his client’s innocence until proven guilty in a court of law.
During Kangethe’s court appearance, the prosecutor requested his detention for 30 days to allow US officials to work on the extradition process. Kangethe did not object to the request. The US Diplomatic Security Service declined to comment on the specifics of the extradition process.
Mbitu, a resident of Whitman, a Boston suburb, came from a family of healthcare workers. She was reported missing in late October when she failed to show up for work, which was unusual for her. Her family notified the police, and her body was discovered the next evening in the SUV inside the airport parking garage. Kangethe became a suspect after investigators traced his movements and discovered that he had boarded flights from Boston to Kenya the day before Mbitu’s body was found.
The motive behind the murder remains unknown, leaving Mbitu’s family and friends grappling with unanswered questions and their grief. Ann Mbitu, her older sister, expressed anger and disbelief, stating that at 31, they should be celebrating milestones in Maggie’s life, not planning her funeral.
Law enforcement officials in Kenya tracked Kangethe’s whereabouts while US state and federal authorities coordinated his arrest. The arrest marks a significant development in the Boston airport murder case, bringing hope for justice for Maggie Mbitu and closure for her loved ones.
In conclusion, the arrest of Kevin Kangethe in Nairobi, Kenya, provides a breakthrough in the Boston airport murder case. Kangethe, the prime suspect in the killing of Maggie Mbitu, had fled the country but was positively identified by an undercover officer at a nightclub. The extradition process is underway, and Kenya has received a formal extradition request from the United States. The motive behind the murder remains unknown, leaving Mbitu’s family and friends seeking answers. The arrest brings hope for justice and closure in this tragic case.