A Kenyan fugitive who spent 13 years on the run after being convicted in the United States over a fatal drunk-driving offence is facing extradition proceedings after his arrest in Nairobi.
Sancho Kibutu appeared before the Milimani Law Courts on Thursday after being arrested in Runda on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, on a warrant issued by the Chief Magistrate’s Court.
US authorities are seeking his extradition after he was convicted of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated under Section 191.5(a) of the California Penal Code. He was awaiting sentencing when he allegedly fled the United States. During the court proceedings, the prosecution described Kibutu as a fugitive and argued that his lengthy period on the run made him a flight risk.
“He’s a convict, a fugitive for that to say specifically, who has been on the run, as I had mentioned, for 13 years,” the prosecution told the court.
The prosecution asked the court to detain Kibutu as it finalised the formal extradition proceedings, saying the documents had not yet been filed because he had only been arrested the previous day.
The defence opposed continued detention, with the court noting that the matter was not yet ready for hearing because the formal extradition application had neither been filed nor served.
Senior Principal Magistrate Teresia Nyangena allowed the prosecution two days to file the formal proceedings and directed that the documents be served on the defence by Monday. The magistrate declined a request to have Kibutu detained at the Industrial Area prison, instead directing that he remain in police custody. The court directed that Kibutu be brought back on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, for further directions after the formal extradition papers have been filed and served.
The United States had formally requested his extradition on December 3, 2019, through the Office of the Attorney General and the US Department of Justice.
According to the extradition request, Kibutu failed to appear before the Superior Court of the State of California, County of Madera, for sentencing on October 28, 2013, after his conviction.
