NTV-NEWS-UPDATE-GIF-HD
Love gone sour? Kenya, US cops hunt for fugitive in murder probe
For a year and a half, Margaret Mbitu and Kevin Kangethe seemed to have fallen deeply in love.
For two Kenyans living and working in Massachusetts to meet and fall in love was as good a love story as any.
Margaret’s family knew little about Kevin other than his name and that he was an IT specialist. But
Margaret was happy, and that was all that mattered.
This week, Margaret’s mother, Rose Mbitu, told the Boston News that her daughter was planning to break up with Kevin.
Could the impending break-up have led to a crime of passion? Detectives in Boston, Massachusetts, are collecting evidence from several crime scenes in an attempt to determine what happened.
At 6.30pm on Wednesday, police officers in Boston found Margaret’s car with her lifeless body inside.
Analysis has since confirmed that she was murdered.
For now, US authorities are convinced of one thing – that Kevin, 40, murdered Maggie, as she was
affectionately known to family and close friends, before buying tickets for a 16-hour flight to Nairobi, a move detectives believe was to avoid prosecution.
The tickets, it has now emerged, were bought early on Tuesday morning, just hours after Margaret’s death.
“State Police Detectives obtained a warrant charging Kangethe with Ms Mbitu’s homicide and are working with Kenyan authorities to locate Kangethe,” a statement from the Massachusetts State Police said.
Massachusetts authorities are hoping to take advantage of Kenya’s extradition treaty with the US, which led to the conviction of two members of the notorious Akasha family on drug trafficking and other charges.
Preliminary evidence gathered from Maggie’s car, which was parked in a garage at Boston’s Logan Airport, and CCTV footage from the airport, has pointed the finger at Kevin for the most heinous of murders.
The CCTV footage is being used to create a timeline of events that may answer some questions about Margaret’s murder.
Margaret lived with her family in Whitman and worked at Boston Area Multi-Services Inc (Bamsi) in Brockton, about 7.2 kilometres away.
On Monday night, she drove 62 kilometres to Boston Logan Airport to see Kevin.
Kevin lived in Lowell, 80 kilometres from Margaret’s home in Whitman.
On Friday, NBC Boston reported that surveillance footage placed Margaret’s car in Lowell and Chelsea, Massachusetts, the day before she was killed.
The 31-year-old nurse worked at Brockton Area Multi-Services Inc, and clocked out of her shift at 11pm last Monday. She got into her white Toyota Venza and drove off, in what would be the last time she would be seen alive.
Those close to Margaret knew she would return home after work. Family members reported her missing after she did not return home and could not be reached by phone.
It turned out that Margaret had gone to Boston Logan Airport, 40 miles (62 kilometres) away, to meet her partner. It is still unclear whether she knew her partner was planning to travel to Kenya.
Two days later, Massachusetts State Police officers found Margaret’s body in her car. Authorities have not revealed much, except that preliminary evidence points to Kevin as the prime suspect.
“Not much is known about him but I am told he was working in IT. Maggie left work at 11pm to go to her house, how they ended up together that night is still a mystery,” a family friend told the Nation in a
phone interview on Friday.
He said Maggie had never shown any signs of unhappiness or abuse in her relationship with Kevin.
Detectives from the Suffolk County State Police Unit and the State Police Troop have been at Mbitu’s home in Whitman, searching for clues that could piece together information about what exactly happened.
The Massachusetts State Police are working with Kenya’s National Police Service to locate and extradite
Kevin, although both authorities remain tight-lipped about details of the investigation.
The Massachusetts State Police had not responded to our emails seeking information about the investigation by the time of going to press.
National Police Service spokesperson Resila Onyango had also not responded to our calls or text messages seeking information on the search for Kevin Kangethe.
Sources told the Nation that Kevin was working at an airport in the US before the incident on Monday night. Airport management had not responded to our request for confirmation of this information by press time.
Margaret has been eulogised as a kind person whose happiness was contagious.
“The entire family…everybody is down… I am not myself right now. This is heartbreaking,” her mother told Boston News.
Margaret is survived by her parents Rose and Harun, siblings Ann and Bernard, and several cousins, aunts and uncles.
Margaret was a naturalised US citizen. She graduated from Quincy College in 2018 and worked for Bamsi, a non-profit organisation that says it has impacted the lives of more than 50,000 people.
The family has been holding daily virtual prayer meetings with the local Anglican community as they begin preparations for Margaret’s funeral.
Shows
See AllAM Live
AM Live is NTV's morning current affairs show that sets the agenda for the day with insightful panels every weekday.
Business Redefined
Business Redefined is Kenya’s premier thought leadership platform for unpacking matters regarding economic and finance policy as well demystifying complex developments in the region’s capital markets.
Comedies
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Entertainment
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Full Episodes
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Gumzo La Sato
Gumzo La Sato is a live social issues show that aims to create awareness about issues affecting the larger society. The discussions range from Parenting, Marital bliss and struggles, Oppression, violence, and all matters of the Heart.
Health Diary
Health Diary is a weekly show that highlights different types of diseases/conditions and seeks ways to prevent, treat/manage them. The show debunks this through real life stories and also feature specialists in different fields, to offer medical advice on the same.
Letter To My Younger Self
Letter To My Younger Self is a podcast where guests get to write a letter to their younger self, from which Maxine formulates questions to ask them during the hour-long show.
Nation Reports
Nation Reports is a weekly podcast offers an opportunity for listeners to interact with various reporters and journey with them as they unravel the biggest most emotive stories.
One Health Lens Podcast
Discussing health matters and human stories from Kenya and across Africa. We talk big picture from people to policy, ecosystems, and everything in between. Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/onehealthlens
Paradise Lost
Paradise Lost peeks through the story of Louis Otieno, the times, and everything in between.
Speaking of GEN Z
Speaking of Gen Z brings you entertaining but meaningful conversations about a generation that is trying to navigate through adulthood. Join hosts Michelle, Jackie and Esther as they unravel all things Gen Z.
Sport On
Sport-On is a 30-minute sports magazine show on NTV and 3 hours on NATION FM. The show seeks to give the sports “fanatics” and “funatics” comprehensive and in-depth coverage of sports both locally and internationally.
Tech-over
The extent of technological growth is beyond mere acknowledgment; it has seamlessly integrated into our daily existence. A few years ago, the notion of paying electricity bills through mobile money or recharging with 'tokens' in Kenya seemed inconceivable. Online product sales were considered distant, and artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping various facets of our lives. Amidst these technological leaps, those with a solid understanding of tech can navigate challenges, seize opportunities, and build a sustainable livelihood. Tech over Show aims to be the platform facilitating discussions among thought leaders, innovators, tech companies, and the government, addressing challenges and opportunities in Kenya's thriving tech industry.
Thamani
Thamani is a business show which is dedicated to emerging issues regarding micro, small and medium size businesses.
The Politalk podcast
This is The Politalk podcast. Here we look into the ins and outs of everything Kenyan politics. We pull no punches and have no reason to sugarcoat anything that matters to Kenyans.
The Trend
A two-hour-long live show that airs on Fridays. The show focuses on what is current in the entertainment industry, controversial and popular across all media platforms targeting those aged between 25 and 35 years.
The trend podcast
The trend podcast highlights and captures the best of banter from #TTTT segment that airs every Friday on NTV. It's the TTTT EXTRA
The Wicked Edition
The Wicked Edition with Dr. King’ori seeks to address serious issues through humour and relatable wit. It is a two-part half hour show filmed in front of a live audience
Trending
A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula A collection of our premium content. Diam curabitur vehicula
Twende
Twende is a travel show that highlights beautiful, unique, diverse locations, people, and cultures. The show offers fresh perspectives on familiar locations and memorable experiences in new ones.
Unscripted
This Saturday evening lifestyle show lets viewers share their stories and life experiences as openly & honestly for the purpose of shifting the culture of silence.
VIP Access
VIP ACCESS is Anyiko Owoko’s YouTube and podcast show on Music and Culture dedicated to promoting Africa’s most promising talent and creatives. This podcast grants you VIP access into timeless interviews while providing a platform for rising as well as established artists across the continent. Since launching in 2018, Anyiko has interviewed over 70 African music stars.
WADR
This weekly news show aims to have all sides of debate but not be constrained by it, listen to main voices in the contest but not allow them to hold the viewers hostage, entertain debate but allow push back with all due respect.
When death do us part
In this podcast, three widowers openly speak about the process of grief, how they found themselves exposed to the emotional turmoil of losing their wives, and how society still does not know how to deal with them.
Your World
Your World is a health, wellness and variety show. It provides a platform for audiences and experts to share their experiences on how to improve or manage health issues, across Kenya and the Africa region.