A Nairobi court issued an arrest warrant Tuesday for a British citizen in connection with the high-profile death of a young Kenyan mother whose body was found in a septic tank over a decade ago.<\/p>\n
Agnes Wanjiru, 21, died in 2012 after she reportedly went partying with British soldiers at a hotel in central Nanyuki town, where Britain has a permanent army garrison.<\/p>\n
The Office for the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said it had informed the court “that evidence gathered links the suspect, a United Kingdom citizen, to the murder”.<\/p>\n
Nairobi High Court judge Alexander Muteti said there was “probable cause to order the arrest of the accused and his surrender before this court for his trial”, granting a warrant for “one citizen and resident of the United Kingdom”.<\/p>\n
Following the judge’s ruling, the ODPP said in a statement on X that “extradition proceedings would now be initiated to ensure the suspect is brought before a Kenyan court”.<\/p>\n
Wanjiru’s sister, Rose Wanyua Wanjiku, 52,\u00a0welcomed the announcement and told AFP: “Let justice prevail”.<\/p>\n
“As a family we are very happy because it has been many years but now we can see a step has been made,” she said.<\/p>\n
– ‘Accelerate progress’ –<\/p>\n
A spokesperson for the British government acknowledged the DPP had “determined that a British National should face trial in relation to the murder of Ms Wanjiru in 2012”.<\/p>\n
The government remains “absolutely committed to helping them secure justice”, but will not comment further due to legal proceedings, according to a statement.<\/p>\n
In October 2021, The Sunday Times reported that a soldier had confessed to his comrades to killing Wanjiru and showed them her body.<\/p>\n
The report alleged that the murder was taken to military superiors, but there was no further action.<\/p>\n
A Kenyan investigation was opened in 2019 but no results have been disclosed. The ODPP said earlier that a team of senior prosecutors had been assembled to review the case.<\/p>\n
British defence minister John Healey met the family earlier this year, stressing the need to “accelerate progress” on the case.<\/p>\n
London and Nairobi have been at odds over the question of jurisdiction for British soldiers who break the law in Kenya.<\/p>\n
The UK has said it does not accept the jurisdiction of the Kenyan court investigating Wanjiru’s death.<\/p>\n
Since Kenya gained independence in 1963, Britain has kept a permanent army base near Nanyuki around 200 kilometres (125 miles) north of the capital Nairobi.<\/p>\n
The British Army Training Unit in Kenya is an economic lifeline for many in Nanyuki but has faced criticism over incidents of misconduct by its soldiers.<\/p>\n
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