The High Court in Nairobi has issued a warrant of arrest against a British national in connection with the high‑profile killing of 21‑year‑old Kenyan mother, Agnes Wanjiru, whose body was discovered in a septic tank more than a decade ago.
Wanjiru died in 2012 after she was reportedly last seen partying with British soldiers at a hotel in Nanyuki, central Kenya, a town that hosts a permanent British Army garrison.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), evidence gathered during investigations links the United Kingdom citizen to the alleged murder, prompting the application for the warrant.
Presiding judge, Hon. Justice Alexander Muteti, held that there was probable cause to order the arrest of the accused and his surrender before the Kenyan court for trial, thereby granting the warrant against “one citizen and resident of the United Kingdom.”
Following the ruling, the ODPP announced via its official X handle that extradition proceedings would be initiated to ensure the suspect is brought before the Kenyan court to face charges.
The victim’s sister, Rose Wanyua Wanjiku, welcomed the development, describing it as a significant step towards justice after years of waiting. “Let justice prevail,” she told reporters, expressing the family’s relief that progress was finally being made.
A spokesperson for the British government confirmed that the Kenyan DPP had determined a British national should face trial over Wanjiru’s death, adding that the UK remained committed to assisting in securing justice, but would refrain from further comment due to ongoing legal proceedings.
The case has drawn renewed attention since an October 2021 report by The Sunday Times alleged that a British soldier confessed to fellow troops about killing Wanjiru and even showed them her body. Despite the matter being reported to military superiors, no immediate action was taken. A formal Kenyan investigation commenced in 2019, but its findings have not been made public.
British Defence Minister John Healey met with Wanjiru’s family earlier this year, pledging to accelerate progress on the case. The British Army Training Unit in Kenya, based near Nanyuki since independence in 1963, remains a key economic presence in the region, but has faced criticism over alleged misconduct by its personnel.
