NAIROBI, Kenya — Kevin Adam Kinyanjui Kangethe, 42, faces continued scrutiny following his arraignment on a first-degree murder charge in the death of Margaret Mbitu, 31. Judge Mary K. Ames approved a request from Kangethe’s attorney, allowing for their withdrawal and scheduling a hearing on August 21 for new legal representation. Kangethe remains without bail as he awaits further court proceedings.
Mbitu’s body was discovered on Nov. 1, 2023, inside Kangethe’s vehicle parked at the airport’s central garage. She had been reported missing by family members after last being seen leaving her job at a long-term care facility in Halifax at about 11 p.m. on October 30, 2023. During the arraignment, Assistant District Attorney Mark Lee detailed that Kangethe had utilized a Lyft ride to reach the facility before departing with Mbitu in a Toyota Venza, a vehicle she had been driving.
Lee alleged that Kangethe attacked Mbitu with a knife shortly after leaving Halifax, inflicting ten wounds to her face and neck. Following the brutal attack, Kangethe reportedly returned home, parking the car with her body still inside. Surveillance footage later captured him driving through various locations in Lowell and neighboring towns. According to Lee, Kangethe disposed of Mbitu’s cellphone in a Chelsea dumpster before making his way to Logan Airport.
The investigation revealed that on October 31, Kangethe answered phone calls from Mbitu’s friends who were concerned about her absence from work, but he denied them the chance to speak with her, claiming she had been injured. Once at Logan, he left Mbitu’s body in the front seat of the vehicle, covered with bags and other items, before boarding a flight to Nairobi.
Authorities emphasized that Kangethe had made plans to leave the United States permanently, as indicated by his purchase of a one-way ticket. He was detained in Kenya on January 30, 2024, but escape from the police custody occurred on February 7. After a brief period at large, he was recaptured days later.
In a poignant statement after the arraignment, Suffolk District Attorney Kevin Hayden characterized Mbitu as a cherished nurse and caregiver, illuminating the deep impact her loss has had on her family and community. Her sister, Ann Mbitu, expressed profound grief, describing her sister as not only family but a confidante and friend. “We will continue to fight until this coward is locked up and never sees the light again,” she vowed during a statement shared outside the courtroom.
With proceedings continuing, Kangethe’s case draws significant attention as details emerge regarding the circumstances surrounding Mbitu’s tragic death.
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