Milimani Law Courts Chief Magistrate Lucas Onyina on Tuesday, February 27, granted orders allowing murder suspect Kevin Kang'ethe access to his phone.
Onyina also directed the Office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) to arrange for the suspect, who is accused of killing his girlfriend Margaret Mbitu, to seek a new lawyer.
This action was prompted after Kang'ethe fired his two lawyers and started representing himself in court, derailing his extradition to the US.
Kang'ethe had complained that he was being harassed and was experiencing police brutality at the Industrial Area Remand Prison. He argued that his lawyers did not raise the matter despite him bringing the concern to their attention.
Vincent Monda, the State prosecutor, told the court that the DPP was fast-tracking Kang'ethe's extradition. Monda added that he was ready to produce evidence to be used against the suspect in Boston.
He emphasised that the delay in the process was due to the suspect lacking lawyers to represent him in court. He added that when extradited, Kang'ethe will be charged with first-degree murder.
The victim's lawyer lamented that the suspect was using this tactic to slow down the process and delay his extradition to the US.
Meanwhile, Justice Onyina directed that the case be mentioned on March 1, to ensure that Kang'ethe successfully lands a new lawyer.
The suspect is accused of killing his girlfriend Mbitu in Boston in early November 2023. He stuffed her body in a car and left it at the Boston Airport.
He later fled to Kenya leading to a global manhunt. He was on the run before police busted him on January 29.
Kang'ethe escaped the Muthaiga Police Station on February 8 but was later arrested in Ngong and the court ordered him to be detained at the Industrial Area Remand Prison to avoid another escape.
