A family member of Kevin Kang’ethe has revealed why he informed police officers about his whereabout to facilitate his arrest after he escaped from Muthaiga police station on February 7.
The relative who sought anonymity while speaking to the press noted that he considered Kang’ethe’s safety by handing him over to the police, to avoid a scenario where police could have shot him.
He added that informing the police was the only way of securing the release Kang’ethe’s brother and other relatives who were in custody for allegedly aiding his escape.
“I decided to inform the police to ease the process as some of our members are also in police custody,” he stated.
“We wanted to save his life by him not being shot, we would rather that he’s found alive and handed over to the United States,” he added.
READ ALSO: Details: How Kevin Kang’ethe escaped from Muthaiga Police Station
At the same time, a section of relatives of the murder suspect noted that they were relieved after he was re-arrested.
For instance, the relatives mentioned cases where some of them were being arrested and harassed by the police, over allegations that they were hiding him.
Others said they were living in fear and were afraid of receiving calls from unknown numbers, to avoid being linked to Kang’ethe’s escape.
READ ALSO: How fugitive Kelvin Kangethe was re-arrested in Ngong Town
“We could also at times not pick calls of some relatives we suspected had talked to Kevin. We knew his being out here was a danger to many,” said a family member.
Another family member narrated how he had urged Kang’ethe to surrender to the authorities.
“We knew he was on the run and may have appeared on your door anytime which would put you in danger. His being in jail is a big relief for some of us,” said another close family member.
Kevin Kang’ethe had been detained pending a court ruling on whether he should be extradited to face murder charges in the United States.
He is the main suspect in the murder of Margaret Mbitu on October 31, 2023 in the US.
READ ALSO: Man linked to the murder of a US based Kenyan woman arrested while clubbing in Nairobi
The late Mbitu was a 31-year-old Kenyan woman based in Whitman, Massachusetts.
Her lifeless body was discovered with stab wounds in the boot of a car that is said to be registered to her 40 year old boyfriend.
