Kenyan fugitive extradited to US after 13 years on the run

Kibutu was formally handed over to US authorities in Nairobi by officers attached to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI). 

He was subsequently flown to California following an extradition request made by the US Department of Justice through the US Embassy in Nairobi.

The entire extradition process through the Kenyan courts was facilitated by the DPP alongside other agencies and took a total of four weeks to complete.

Prior to his extradition, Mr. Kibutu - who also operated under the alias Njoroge Kibutu - had remained a fugitive for 13 years after failing to appear for sentencing. 

He was originally convicted in the United States on September 19, 2013, by the Superior Court of California, County of Madera, for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, contrary to Section 191.5(a) of the California Penal Code.

Following his failure to appear in court, a bench warrant was issued for his arrest on October 28, 2013. After over a decade on the run, Mr. Kibutu was apprehended in Nairobi on September 9, 2026, pursuant to extradition proceedings between Kenya and the United States.

According to court records, the offense occurred when Kibutu, then aged 32, was driving along Golden State Boulevard. He crossed a double yellow line and collided with another vehicle, resulting in a fatal crash that killed a 16-year-old passenger and left the driver and two other occupants injured. 

Despite his conviction for the deadly crash, Kibutu fled the country and remained at large until his recent arrest in Kenya.

The ODPP highlighted that the extradition underscores its commitment to facilitating international cooperation in criminal justice. 

The agency reaffirmed its dedication to ensuring that individuals wanted for offenses in other jurisdictions are brought before the relevant authorities in accordance with the law.