- The ODPP announced the extradition of Kenyan national Sancho Kibutu, who fled the US in 2013 after being convicted of killing a 16-year-old in a drunk-driving crash
- Kibutu was arrested in Nairobi on September 9, 2026, under extradition proceedings between Kenya and the United States
- The extradition process, facilitated by the ODPP, DCI, and Kenyan courts, took four weeks to complete before Kibutu was flown to California
Kenya has extradited Sancho Kibutu, a Kenyan national who spent 13 years as a fugitive after fleeing the United States before sentencing in a fatal drunk-driving case that claimed the life of a 16-year-old in California.
Source: UGC
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) confirmed the handover in a statement Friday, October 23, saying Kibutu was formally transferred to US authorities in Nairobi following an extradition request by the US Department of Justice, submitted through the US Embassy in Nairobi.
"The extradition process, facilitated by the DPP and other agencies through the Kenyan courts, lasted four weeks," the ODPP said.
How the Fatal Crash Unfolded
Court records cited by the ODPP detail the circumstances of the crash. Kibutu, who was 32 at the time, was driving along Golden State Boulevard in California's Madera County when he veered across a double yellow line and struck an oncoming vehicle.
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"Court records indicate that Kibutu, then aged 32, was driving along Golden State Boulevard when he crossed a double yellow line and collided with another vehicle," the ODPP statement said.
A 16-year-old passenger in the other car died as a result of the collision. The driver and two additional occupants of that vehicle sustained injuries.
The Superior Court of California, County of Madera, subsequently convicted Kibutu of gross vehicular man-slaughter while intoxicated, contrary to Section 191.5(a) of the California Penal Code.
Kibutu's 13-Year Flight from Justice
Kibutu was convicted on September 19, 2013, but failed to appear when called for sentencing.
A bench warrant was issued on October 28, 2013, and he evaded capture for over a decade. He is also known by the names Sancho Kibuto and Njoroge Kibuto.
Kenyan authorities eventually located and arrested him in Nairobi on September 9, 2026.
Officers from the ODPP and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) subsequently oversaw his formal handover to US authorities, after which he was flown to California to face sentencing.
The ODPP said the case demonstrated Kenya's willingness to honour international criminal justice commitments.
"The extradition underscores the DPP's commitment to facilitating international cooperation in criminal justice and ensuring that individuals wanted to answer for offences in other jurisdictions are brought before the relevant authorities in accordance with the law," the statement read.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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