September 4, 2024 – Nairobi, Kenya: The family of Margaret Mbitu, a Kenyan woman brutally murdered in the United States in October 2023, has broken their silence in court as the legal battle against her alleged killer, Kelvin Kan’gethe, unfolds. Mbitu’s relatives, who attended the hearing, expressed hope for justice nearly a year after the tragic incident.
Mbitu, who lived and worked in Lowell, Massachusetts, was fatally stabbed on October 30, 2023. Her partner, Kelvin Kan’gethe, is the prime suspect in the case. After the murder, Kan’gethe managed to evade arrest in the U.S. and fled to Kenya, sparking an international manhunt. He was apprehended three months later on January 31, 2024, as he attempted to leave a nightclub in Nairobi.
In a highly anticipated move, Kan’gethe was extradited to the United States, where he faced a court hearing this week. Despite pleading not guilty to the charges, the judge ordered his detention without bail, citing the seriousness of the crime and the circumstances of his escape.
Mbitu’s family, who have been grappling with their loss and the protracted legal process, attended the hearing and spoke out for the first time. Mary Kinyariro, Mbitu’s cousin, expressed cautious optimism after the day’s proceedings.
“It has been a long journey coming. Today gives us hope and represents a step forward toward justice,” Kinyariro said, her voice filled with emotion.
Another cousin, Joel Muhoro, shared heartfelt memories of Mbitu, describing her as a warm, ambitious young woman whose life was tragically cut short.
“Today, we remember her kindness, her generosity, her smile, and her infectious laugh, which lit up every room she entered,” Muhoro said. “We think about her dreams of becoming a business owner and a nurse practitioner to help care for others. We remember the hole left in our lives.”
During the hearing, the court was presented with a detailed account of the events leading up to Mbitu’s death. Prosecutors alleged that Kan’gethe took a ride from his home in Lowell to Mbitu’s workplace on October 30, 2023. He then drove her home in a different car registered in his name. It was during this journey that the brutal attack occurred.
According to prosecutors, Kan’gethe stabbed Mbitu in the face and neck at least ten times before leaving her body in a heavily tinted car at Logan Airport. The court heard that Kan’gethe spent some time driving around, searching for a place to dispose of the body before ultimately abandoning it in the front seat of the vehicle. He then fled to Nairobi on a one-way ticket, leaving a trail of grief and unanswered questions in his wake.
The case drew significant attention from both U.S. and Kenyan authorities, culminating in Kan’gethe’s arrest in January 2024 after a joint effort by U.S. law enforcement and Kenya’s Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
As the case continues, Kan’gethe is scheduled to return to court in November for a pretrial hearing. Mbitu’s family, though still mourning their loss, remains hopeful that justice will be served.