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Murder suspect Kelvin Kang'ethe's escape: Internal Affairs Unit takes charge of probe

Murder suspect Kevin Kinyanjui Kang'ethe pictured after his arrest on February 13, 2024. (Photo: DCI)

By Mary Wambui | 15 Feb 2024

The unit takes over the probe from Nairobi Regional Police Commander Adamson Bungei.

Inspector General of Police Japhet Koome has directed the Internal Affairs Unit (IAU) to take over the investigation into the unlawful escape of murder suspect Kelvin Kang'ethe from custody.

The Eastleigh Voice has learnt that IAU detectives have since started their probe with an inquiry to establish circumstances surrounding the unlawful escape.

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The unit takes over the probe from Nairobi Regional Police Commander Adamson Bungei.

Kang'ethe was re-arrested on Tuesday this week at a relative's house in Ngong', Kajiado County, five days after he escaped from Muthaiga Police Station and was driven to Nairobi for questioning.

A relative revealed that Kang'ethe confessed that his escape was an " inside job" meaning he was assisted by officers at the station.

On Wednesday morning, he was arraigned at a Milimani Magistrates court where Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina allowed an application by the prosecution to have him detained at Industrial Area Remand Prison pending the hearing and determination of extradition proceedings against him.

"The DPP's application to remand Kang'ethe in prison has merit as the police who had been allowed to keep him are subject of an investigation to establish how he managed to escape from Muthaiga Police Station," the Magistrate ruled, agreeing with the prosecution's fears that the suspect would abscond duty if returned to police custody.

The suspect, 42, is wanted by the United States for the murder of Margaret Mbitu in Boston last year.

He had been booked at Muthaiga Police Station by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations headquarters who last week were allowed by the court to hold him for 30 days as the Directorate of Public Prosecution prepares his extradition proceedings, as requested by the US where he was expected to face the murder charges.

The court allowed the officers to detain him at Muthaiga police station, however, on Wednesday evening last week, police said he walked away from the station shortly after meeting his lawyer John Ndegwa Maina, at one of the offices.

A day after his highly publicized escape, the regional commander announced that the National Police Service had interdicted four police officers who were on duty when he escaped custody.

"The four will face other charges in court including aiding the escape of the wanted suspect," Bungei said as he presided over a police prayer meeting at the Police Pavilion in South C, Nairobi on Friday.

Further disciplinary measures taken by the service included the transfer of two of the station's senior officers who now serve in different stations.