A Kenyan High Court has issued an arrest warrant for a British national accused of murdering 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru more than a decade ago.
Wanjiru was killed in March 2012, and her body was discovered nearly three months later in a septic tank at a hotel in Nanyuki, a garrison town in central Kenya, after she was last seen partying with British soldiers.
Justice Alexander Muteti ruled that prosecutors had presented sufficient evidence to require the suspect’s appearance before a Kenyan court for trial. The decision paves the way for extradition proceedings to begin.
Kamau Mbiu, the lawyer representing Wanjiru’s family, welcomed the ruling but called for transparency. “We welcome it, but we urge greater transparency, as this remains a matter of public interest,” he told the BBC.
The judge ordered that the identities of the accused and witnesses remain confidential to protect the trial’s integrity.
In response, a UK government spokesperson said: “Our thoughts remain with the family of Agnes Wanjiru and we remain absolutely committed to helping them secure justice.” The spokesperson declined further comment, citing ongoing legal proceedings.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence has previously stated that it is cooperating with Kenyan authorities in the investigation, which has sparked widespread outrage in the country.
Wanjiru, who left behind a young daughter, was from Nanyuki, near the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), about 200km north of Nairobi. Her family has campaigned tirelessly for justice over the years.
Her niece, Esther Njoki, described the court’s ruling as a “bittersweet moment,” noting that while it represented progress, the extradition process could take considerable time.
Prosecutors assured the court that UK-based witnesses would be available to testify, allowing the trial to move forward once extradition is secured.
Tessa Gregory, the family’s UK-based lawyer, urged swift action from London: “We now call upon the British Government to do everything in its power to ensure that the accused can be extradited and face trial in Kenya as soon as possible.”
