Kevin Kinyanjui Kang’ethe, a murder suspect who escaped from Muthaiga Police Station, is reportedly in the company of a man believed to be his brother, and both have turned off their phones, making them untraceable. The escape occurred last week, raising questions about the involvement of Kang’ethe’s brother in planning the evasion. Kang’ethe was in custody facing possible extradition to the United States for the murder of his girlfriend, Ms Margaret Mbitu.
Detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) reveal that Kang’ethe and his brother linked up immediately after the escape, with their phones switched off. Authorities suspect that they are currently together, prompting an intensified manhunt for the fugitive. Kang’ethe had allegedly committed the crime in the US before fleeing to Kenya.
City-based lawyer Ms Beatrice Ng’ethe, Kang’ethe’s cousin, has been implicated in the escape and was briefly arrested by DCI sleuths. Phone records revealed her communication with Kang’ethe days before the escape, making her a person of interest. However, Ms Ng’ethe, who was released on a Sh100,000 cash bail, claims to have provided legal advice to Kang’ethe and assisted in ongoing investigations.
Despite being released, Ms Ng’ethe’s arrest has raised questions about her alleged role in the escape plan. DCI boss Mohamed Amin confirmed her interrogation, stating that investigations were ongoing. Ms Ng’ethe insists that her communication with Kang’ethe was solely for legal advice regarding the murder case and extradition.
CCTV footage shows the unusual arrest of Ms Ng’ethe at her Kiambu residence by four DCI officers. The officers avoided looking at cameras, and after the arrest, Ms Ng’ethe and her friend were taken to Kiambu Police Station, where they were interrogated. Ms Ng’ethe’s family raised concerns about her whereabouts, leading to efforts to locate her and seek information from various police stations.
The Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President, Eric Theuri, described Ms Ng’ethe’s arrest as an attack on the legal profession, urging lawyers to protest against the incident. The case highlights the complexities surrounding Kang’ethe’s escape and the ongoing investigations involving his alleged accomplices.
