Murder trial of Kenyan nurse begins in US after deportation of suspect Kevin Kangethe

The family of Margaret Mbitu, a 30-year-old Kenyan-American nurse whose body was found at Logan International Airport in Boston last October, has requested privacy as the murder case against the main suspect begins today in the United States.

Kevin Kangethe, the suspect accused of killing Mbitu, was extradited to the US on September 1, 2024, and is set to appear in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston.

Mbitu, who was last seen leaving her workplace in Halifax, Massachusetts, on the evening of October 30, last year, was reported missing the same day.

Her body was discovered two days later in a vehicle at the airport parking lot. US authorities allege that Kangethe, who had been in a relationship with Mbitu, fled to Kenya shortly after her disappearance.

The family stated David Guarino, Founder and President of Survivors Say, Inc. expressed their gratitude to the authorities for their efforts but requested that the media respect their need for privacy.

"Our family has been notified by District Attorney Kevin Hayden’s office that the process for bringing justice for our beloved Maggie will continue today with the arraignment of the person charged with her murder. We are deeply grateful to the District Attorney, investigators, police, and victim advocates who have supported our family and are ensuring Maggie’s killer is held responsible," the statement read.

Murder suspect Kevin Kangethe at the Milimani Law Court on March 13, 2024. (Photo: Joseph Ndunda/EV)

The family has indicated that they will make no further comments before today's court hearing.

Kangethe, 41, was apprehended by Kenyan authorities earlier this year after fleeing the US. Following an international manhunt, he was arrested in Nairobi after an intelligence-led operation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI).

Kangethe, who had briefly escaped from custody in February, was recaptured at a relative's home in Kenya, prompting a diplomatic effort between US and Kenyan authorities to secure his extradition.

The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in Kenya confirmed his extradition, stating that Kangethe would face murder charges in Boston. A Kenyan court had approved the extradition following a request from the US Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI).

The Mbitu family, deeply affected by the tragic loss, hopes for justice as the legal proceedings unfold.