After evading authorities for over a year, the boyfriend of a Citibank executive, Marianne Kilonzi, who was tragically found murdered in her London residence, has been apprehended.
Marianne Kilonzi, 43 years old and serving as the vice president of trade and working capital sales at Citibank, was discovered deceased in her Woolwich home on January 17 of the previous year.
Brian Kiprop Kipglagat, who was the target of a 16-month-long international manhunt, was taken into custody by immigration officials on June 10 as he tried to enter Tanzania from Namanga, a town on the southern border of Kenya. He is now under arrest for extradition to the UK in connection with Kilonzi’s murder.
Kipglagat had sought to travel to Tanzania on a temporary permit, but his movements were monitored by undercover agents in Kenya at the request of the Metropolitan Police.
Appearing at the Milimani Law Courts in Nairobi on June 12 for a hearing related to the alleged crime, Kipglagat’s situation was reported by local media.
According to The Kenyan Diaspora Media, the prosecution stated, “The United Kingdom, through the Metropolitan Police Service, sought assistance from Kenyan authorities to locate and apprehend the suspect, as they believed he had entered Kenyan territory.”
Prosecutor Joyce Olajo argued that due to the seriousness of the offense, the suspect, who posed a flight risk, should be held in custody without bond and placed at the Anti-Terrorism Police Unit (ATPU).
The prosecution also claimed that Kipglagat lacked a fixed address in Kenya and had been moving between different locations. Additionally, it was alleged that he referred to his girlfriend’s death as a “misfortune” in a text message sent to one of her relatives after the incident.
Authorities mentioned that Kipglagat possessed multiple travel documents, some of which were suspected to be fraudulently obtained, along with the mobile phone used to send the aforementioned message.
Responding to concerns for her well-being, the Metropolitan Police were alerted to Ms. Kilonzi’s residence on January 17, 2025.
A post-mortem examination determined that blunt force trauma and a head injury were the causes of her death.
At the time, authorities suspected that Ms. Kilonzi was acquainted with her assailant and considered the possibility that the suspect had fled the country.
Following the tragic event, a spokesperson from Citibank expressed their deep sorrow, stating, “We are profoundly saddened by the loss of our colleague, Marianne. Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family and friends during this challenging period.”</p
