Kenya Seeks Extradition of British National in Agnes Wanjiru Murder Case

Mon Oct 20 2025 23:51:44 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

An arrest warrant has been issued for a British national accused of murdering Agnes Wanjiru, a young Kenyan mother, in 2012. The warrant opens the possibility for extradition and trial in Kenya for the long-fought case.

A Kenyan High Court has issued an arrest warrant for a British national linked to the murder of Agnes Wanjiru, who was found dead in a septic tank in 2012. The court's ruling signals potential extradition proceedings, aiming for justice for Ms. Wanjiru's family. Witnesses planned to testify from the UK, although the case remains under legal confidentiality, as urged by the judge.

A Kenyan High Court has issued an arrest warrant for a British national suspected of murdering a 21-year-old woman more than a decade ago.

Agnes Wanjiru was killed in March 2012 and her body later found in a septic tank of a hotel in the central garrison town of Nanyuki nearly three months after she had allegedly spent an evening partying with British soldiers.

Justice Alexander Muteti said prosecutors had provided sufficient evidence to request that the suspect appear before a Kenyan court for trial.

The lawyer representing Ms Wanjiru's family, Kamau Mbiu, told the BBC the ruling paved the way for proceedings to start for the suspect's extradition from the UK.

We welcome it, but we urge greater transparency, as this remains a matter of public interest, Mr Mbiu said.

The judge directed that the identities of the accused and witnesses not be published, saying this was necessary in order to protect the integrity of the trial.

In a statement, 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 stated that no further comment would be made at this stage due to the ongoing legal proceedings.

The UK’s Ministry of Defence has previously indicated that it is cooperating with the Kenyan investigation into the case, which has caused outrage throughout the East African nation.

The family of Ms Wanjiru, who left behind a young daughter, has long been fighting for justice. They reside in Nanyuki, which is close to the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk), located approximately 200km (125 miles) north of the capital, Nairobi.

Ms Wanjiru's niece, Esther Njoki, stated that the warrant is a a bitter-sweet moment, acknowledging that the extradition process could be lengthy.

The prosecution assured the court that witnesses currently based in the UK would be made available for the trial, enabling proceedings to move forward.

Family's UK-based legal representative, Tessa Gregory, called on the British Government to ensure that the accused can face trial in Kenya as soon as possible.