Kenyan fugitive caught after 13 years on the run from US
The long hand of the law has eventually caught up with a Kenyan fugitive convicted of manslaughter in the United States 13 years ago.
Sancho Kibutu, who is said to have committed the offence under the influence of alcohol in the US, slipped through the security networks.
The jury returned a verdict of guilty, but before sentence could be imposed, he sneaked out of America and returned to Kenya, where he had been hiding.
In Nairobi, the court has ordered that the fugitive convicted of vehicular manslaughter in the United States remain in custody as the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), through senior prosecuting counsel Duncan Ondimu, files the formal extradition proceedings.
Mr Kibutu fled to Kenya after being convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated in California.
Mr Ondimu informed the court that Kibutu has been evading justice since escaping sentencing in 2013, asserting that “the respondent is a convict who has been on the run, as I have mentioned, for 13 years” and remains a severe flight risk.
The prosecution requested time to finalise formal proceedings and asked that the convict be remanded in prison.
Mr Ondimu submitted: “The DPP requests a period of two (2) days within which to file a formal extradition application against the respondent.”
The prosecuting counsel further urged: “I humbly plead that this Honourable Court finds that the Prosecution/Applicant has provided compelling reasons against the release of the Respondent on bail and/or bond pending the hearing and determination of this extradition proceedings.”
Defence lawyers vehemently opposed the State’s request to deny bail and detain the convict, contending that Kibutu had received court documents without sufficient opportunity to review them. The defence emphasised that “the right to bail should be given priority as it is suspects’ prerogative right.”
The defence asked Magistrate Teresia Nyangena to tilt the wheels of justice in favour of the fugitive, adding: “Kibutu is willing to appear in court anytime required even if he is freed on bond.”
Counsel further argued that remanding an individual who has not been formally charged locally to a maximum-security prison such as Kamiti Maximum or Industrial Area constituted an abuse of judicial process.
The legal battle stems from an incident on September 19, 2013, when a jury in the Superior Court of California, County of Madera, found Kibutu guilty of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated under California Penal Code Section 191.5(a).
He was instructed to appear for sentencing on October 28, 2013, but Kibutu fled the United States on October 11, 2013, travelling through Dubai before settling in Nairobi.
Following a formal extradition request by the United States Department of Justice, the Kenyan justice system obtained a warrant of arrest on September 3, 2026, eventually apprehending Kibutu in the Runda-Githogororo neighbourhood of Nairobi on September 9, 2026.
In her ruling, Ms Nyangena granted the prosecution two days to submit the formal proceedings.
She directed that service of the litigation pleadings be completed by Monday.
Addressing the custody application, the magistrate ruled that prison detention was inappropriate at this stage and ordered that the accused be held at Gigiri Police Station, as mutually agreed by counsel.
She noted that the substantive extradition proceedings had not been formally filed and that it was premature for a full hearing.
All the parties will exchange court filings by September 14, 2026.
Meanwhile, Kibutu was whisked away by security and is now being detained at Gigiri Police Station.
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