The High Court has ordered murder suspect Kevin Kang'ethe to be detained at Industrial Area Remand Prison, pending the hearing of the case where the State is seeking to extradite the suspect to the US.
Kang'ethe is wanted in the United States over the murder of Kenyan nurse Margaret Mbitu.
Vincent Monda, for the prosecution, argued that in this particular case, the State needs to take extra precaution and heighten security levels after the suspect staged a daring escape from the Muthaiga Police Station on Wednesday, February 7.
The prosecution argued that the suspect, who was placed on red notice, ought to be held at an Industrial Area Prison and not a police station.
A red notice is a request to all law enforcement agencies internationally to locate and arrest a person pending extradition, surrender or any legal action.
Monda pointed out that the detention would not limit Kang'ethe's access to legal counsel, and was instead a cautionary measure to ensure that the suspect attends all court proceedings.
"I urge this court to make an order that Kang'ethe be detained at the Industrial Area Medium remand prison to secure his attendance in court," the prosecutor stated.
"Once bitten twice shy, so we cannot take that risk. They are still police stations, so we humbly beseech this court to grant us orders sought and I'm going to repeat that we are ready to prosecute this case as soon as possible, even from next week."
Kang'ethe's defence team, led by Antony Kago countered the argument, pointing out that the suspect had not been officially charged with any offence to warrant his detention.
"To detain him at the prison remand is a violation of his rights since he has not been charged with any known offence in law," Kago stated.
Additionally, video footage from the court captured Kang'ethe dismissing journalists' questions, insisting that they should wait for the case to commence.
"What offence are you talking about? Stop all this and wait for the court to kick off," he stated.
