Kenya issues arrest warrant for British national over young mother's murder
Kenya Issues Arrest Warrant for British Soldier in Agnes Wanjiru Murder Case
A Kenyan High Court has issued an arrest warrant for a British national convicted of murdering 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru more than a decade ago.
Ms Wanjiru was killed in March 2012, and her body was found in a hotel septic tank in Nanyuki, a garrison town that hosts British soldiers, three months after she was last seen with troops on a night out.
Justice Alexander Muteti ruled that prosecutors had gathered sufficient evidence to warrant the suspect’s arrest and conviction in Nairobi. The order paves the way for extradition proceedings from the United Kingdom.
Push for Justice
Kamau Mbiu, the lawyer representing Ms Wanjiru’s family, welcomed the ruling but called for transparency.
“We applaud it, but we insist on greater transparency because this is a matter of public concern,” he told the BBC.
The judge directed that the names of both the accused and witnesses remain undisclosed to protect the integrity of the trial.
UK Response
A UK government spokesperson said:
“Our thoughts remain with the family of Agnes Wanjiru, and we remain completely committed to helping them obtain justice.”
The Ministry of Defence has previously confirmed that it is cooperating with Kenyan investigators.
A Family’s Struggle
Ms Wanjiru, who left behind a young daughter, had lived in Nanyuki, close to the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), about 200km north of Nairobi.
Her niece, Esther Njoki, described the warrant as a “bittersweet moment,” acknowledging that extradition could still take time.
Tessa Gregory, the family’s UK-based lawyer, said:
“It is now upon the British government to do everything possible to ensure that the accused are extradited and face trial in Kenya as soon as possible.”
The court also confirmed that witnesses currently based in the UK will be called to testify.
