After more than a decade of unanswered questions, a Nairobi High Court judge has issued an arrest warrant for a British citizen linked to the 2012 killing of Kenyan mother Agnes Wanjiru, whose body was discovered in a septic tank. Justice Alexander Muteti ruled there was enough evidence to order the suspect’s arrest and appearance in court for trial. Kenya’s Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has confirmed that extradition proceedings will begin to bring the accused to face justice.
For Wanjiru’s family, this is a long-awaited step. Her sister, Rose Wanyua Wanjiku, expressed relief, saying: “Let justice prevail… we are very happy because it has been many years but now we can see a step has been made.” The British government has also acknowledged the development, stating it is committed to supporting Kenya’s pursuit of justice, though it declined to comment further due to ongoing legal processes.
The case gained renewed attention in 2021 after The Sunday Times reported that a British soldier allegedly confessed to killing Wanjiru and even showing her body to colleagues. Despite this, no immediate action was taken. Kenyan authorities opened an investigation in 2019, but progress stalled until prosecutors recently revived the case, with UK Defence Minister John Healey earlier this year urging for faster progress.
This unresolved murder has strained relations between Kenya and the UK, particularly over jurisdiction issues involving British soldiers stationed in the country. The British Army Training Unit, based in Nanyuki, provides jobs and economic support to locals but has also faced criticism over alleged misconduct. With this new ruling, many hope the path toward accountability and closure for Wanjiru’s family has finally begun.
