Kenyan-American Fugitive Granted Sh1 Million Bond Pending Extradition to Rwanda

A Kenyan-American businessman who is wanted in Rwanda has been released on bail pending the commencement of an extradition process.

Senior Principal Magistrate Bernard Ochoi of Milimani law courts on Monday granted Nathan Loyd Ndung’u a Sh1 million bond and a surety of a similar amount. 

The court dismissed an application by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) seeking to detain the fugitive for 21 days as they wait for the extradition request from Rwanda.

The magistrate ruled that there were no compelling reasons to warrant his detention and directed Ndung’u to be reporting to the police twice a week pending his extradition.

The prosecution had urged the court not to release the fugitive on bail or bond, arguing that he may flee the country again. The court heard that he traveled out of the country with an INTERPOL Red Notice in place, hence he could leave again undetected.

The court was also told that Ndung’u holds dual citizenship as Kenyan and American and can therefore travel back to the US and assimilate with the residents without being detected. 

The public prosecution in Rwanda charged Ndung’u with the offense of selling a property belonging to another person on October 18th, 2011.

On September 27th, 2012, a court in Rwanda tried him in absentia and convicted him of selling property belonging to another person, coupled with fraud as well as deceit. He was sentenced to five years in prison.

Ndung’u was arrested at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) on January 31st upon arrival from John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York abroad a Kenya Airways flight. He was arrested by officers from INTERPOL National Central Bureau, Nairobi on a Red Notice Alert issued in 2012.