The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has acknowledged the role of Kenya’s law enforcement and prosecution agencies in tracking down and extraditing Sancho Kibutu to the United States, where he is expected to face sentencing for a fatal drunk-driving crash.
In a statement issued on October 23, 2026, the FBI commended Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) for helping secure Kibutu’s arrest and return to California, more than 13 years after he fled the United States before his sentencing hearing.
Kibutu was arrested by Kenyan authorities in Nairobi on September 9, 2026, following a request from the United States. He was subsequently returned to the US on October 23 to face sentencing for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, an offence for which he was convicted in Madera County, California.
FBI Sacramento Special Agent in Charge Brian Tosh said Kibutu had fled to Kenya to avoid accountability for the crash, which killed one person and seriously injured three others.
“Sancho Kibutu fled to Kenya to avoid responsibility for a fatal drunk driving accident that seriously injured three other people. He underestimated the FBI’s resolve,” Tosh said.
He added that the FBI regularly works with domestic and international law enforcement partners to ensure defendants answer for their offences in court and that victims receive justice.
According to court records cited by the FBI, the crash occurred on August 13, 2011, along Golden State Boulevard in California. Kibutu’s vehicle crossed into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with another vehicle carrying four people.
Kibutu, who was intoxicated, sustained minor injuries in the collision. A passenger in the other vehicle was killed, while the three other occupants suffered serious injuries.
A Madera County jury convicted Kibutu of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated on April 13, 2013, following a three-day trial. He was ordered to return to court for sentencing on October 28, 2013, but fled to Kenya before the hearing.
His failure to appear for sentencing left the case unresolved for more than a decade, until his arrest in Nairobi in September 2026 paved the way for extradition proceedings.
Kenyan authorities subsequently pursued the legal process required to surrender him to the United States. The extradition was facilitated through the Kenyan courts following a request by the US Department of Justice through the US Embassy in Nairobi.
The ODPP and DCI worked alongside other Kenyan agencies and American officials during the process. The FBI also acknowledged the contribution of the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs and the Madera County District Attorney’s Office in securing Kibutu’s arrest and extradition.
The FBI said the cooperation demonstrated the close partnership between Kenya and the United States in handling international criminal matters.
Kibutu’s return to California brings him back before the jurisdiction where he was convicted, clearing the way for the outstanding sentencing process to proceed. The FBI statement did not specify a new sentencing date.
The case also highlights the role of international cooperation in pursuing convicted offenders who leave the jurisdiction before completing court proceedings. The FBI said it continues to work with domestic and foreign law enforcement agencies to apprehend individuals who flee while facing state criminal cases.
