Kevin Kangethe, Wanted for Murder in the US, Claims He’s Been Denied Contact to Legal Representation
Conflicting accounts emerged during a Friday court hearing regarding murder suspect Kevin Kang'ethe's access to communication and legal representation.
Martin Onyango, Superintendent of Prisons responsible for documentation, refuted Kangethe's claims of being denied contact with his desired legal team. Onyango presented a detailed timeline of events, starting from Kang'ethe's arrival at the detention facility on February 14. He explained that Kang'ethe was informed of his rights, including the right to legal counsel, and personally provided contact information for four lawyers. He was assigned designated officers and had access to the welfare phone to contact his lawyers and family.
Onyango provided documented evidence of Kang'ethe making several phone calls during his detention, contradicting Kang'ethe's claim of being unable to contact anyone. Additionally, prison officials testified that Kang'ethe never voiced any complaints about phone access during their visit to address any concerns. However, Kang'ethe disputed this narrative, asserting that he was denied access to his desired contacts and felt isolated from his loved ones.
Kang'ethe further alleged that his lawyer John Ndengwa was denied access to visit him. However, the court instructed Kang'ethe to consult with authorities regarding Ndengwa's access. The court granted Kang'ethe the opportunity to seek new legal representation and scheduled the next hearing for March 13th, 2024. Kevin Kang'ethe, a murder suspect wanted in the United States, stands accused of killing his girlfriend in Massachusetts and then fleeing to Kenya. Kang'ethe was initially apprehended in Nairobi and awaited extradition proceedings while in custody at the Muthaiga police station.
However, he made a daring escape and was eventually rearrested. During a Tuesday court hearing, he presented himself without legal representation, claiming his lawyers had withdrawn due to disagreements and that he had been subjected to torture by both the police and prison officials. He displayed visible injuries as evidence of the alleged abuse. Meanwhile, the United States continues to seek his extradition for the alleged murder of his girlfriend, Margaret Mbitu, in Massachusetts in October 2023. The victim's body was discovered abandoned at the Boston airport after Kang'ethe fled the scene and subsequently arrived in Kenya.