NAIROBI, Kenya – Kenyan national Sancho Kibutu has been extradited to the United States to face sentencing over a fatal drunk-driving conviction, ending more than 13 years as a fugitive after he failed to appear before a California court.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said Kibutu was formally handed over to US authorities in Nairobi by officers from the ODPP and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) before being flown to California.
The handover followed an extradition request by the US Department of Justice through the American Embassy in Nairobi. According to the ODPP, the process through the Kenyan courts took four weeks.
Kibutu’s extradition marks the latest development in a case that returned to the spotlight in September 2026, when Kenyan authorities arrested him in Nairobi following years of efforts to secure his return to the United States.
How the Case Began
Kibutu was convicted by the Superior Court of California in Madera County of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated, an offence under Section 191.5(a) of the California Penal Code.
Court records cited in the extradition proceedings indicate that Kibutu, then aged 32, 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 and injured the driver and two other occupants of the vehicle.
Following his conviction on September 19, 2013, Kibutu was required to return to court for sentencing on October 28 that year. However, he failed to appear, prompting the issuance of a bench warrant.
The ODPP said he remained a fugitive for approximately 13 years before his arrest in Kenya.
Arrest in Nairobi Led to Extradition
Kibutu was arrested on September 9, 2026, in Nairobi pursuant to proceedings initiated following a US extradition request.
He was subsequently presented before the Milimani Law Courts, where the prosecution pursued his surrender to American authorities.
On September 25, the ODPP announced that it had secured an extradition order, paving the way for him to be handed over to the United States to face sentencing.
The extradition request was formally submitted by the United States through the Office of the Attorney General and the US Department of Justice in December 2019, several years before his eventual arrest.
The latest handover completes the process of returning him to the jurisdiction where he was convicted.
What Happens Next?
Kibutu is expected to face sentencing before the California court following his extradition. The ODPP has not disclosed the specific date scheduled for the sentencing hearing.
The offence for which he was convicted concerns a fatal crash involving an intoxicated driver. Under California Penal Code Section 191.5(a), gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated is a serious criminal offence.
The ODPP said the case demonstrates Kenya’s cooperation with foreign jurisdictions in facilitating criminal proceedings and ensuring that people sought by other countries are brought before the relevant authorities in accordance with the law.
For Kibutu, the extradition brings an end to years spent outside the United States after his failure to appear for sentencing, with the outstanding proceedings now set to continue in California.
