The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has facilitated the extradition of Kenyan national Sancho Kibutu to the United States, where he is expected to face sentencing following his conviction for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated.
Kibutu was formally handed over to US authorities in Nairobi before being flown to California to face sentencing.
His extradition followed a request by the US Department of Justice through the US Embassy in Nairobi.
The process was coordinated by officers from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), with the involvement of the Kenyan courts.
According to the DPP, the extradition process took four weeks to complete.
Kibutu, who is also known as Sancho Kibuto and Njoroge Kibuto, had remained a fugitive for 13 years after failing to appear for sentencing following his conviction in the United States on September 19, 2013.
A bench warrant was issued on October 28, 2013, after he failed to appear before the court. He remained at large until his arrest in Nairobi on September 9, 2026, as part of the extradition proceedings between Kenya and the United States.
Court records show that Kibutu was convicted by the Superior Court of California in Madera County for gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, an offence under Section 191.5(a) of the California Penal Code.
According to the case details, Kibutu was 32 years old at the time of the incident. He was driving along Golden State Boulevard when he crossed a double yellow line and collided with another vehicle.
The crash killed a 16-year-old passenger in the other vehicle and left the driver and two other occupants injured.
The incident led to criminal proceedings in the United States, where Kibutu was eventually convicted of the offence.
However, despite the conviction, Kibutu failed to appear for sentencing, prompting authorities to issue a warrant for his arrest. His failure to return to court left him wanted by US authorities for more than a decade.
His arrest in Kenya in September 2026 paved the way for extradition proceedings, which were completed through the Kenyan legal system. His transfer to California now allows the US authorities to proceed with the sentencing process.
The DPP said the extradition demonstrates Kenya’s commitment to international cooperation in criminal justice and ensuring that individuals wanted in other jurisdictions are brought before the relevant authorities in accordance with the law.
The case also highlights cooperation between Kenya and the United States in addressing criminal matters that cross national borders. Through the extradition process, Kenyan agencies and courts facilitated Kibutu’s transfer in response to the formal request from American authorities.
