A Kenyan High Court has issued an arrest warrant for a British national suspected of murdering a 21-year-old woman, Agnes Wanjiru, over a decade ago.
Agnes Wanjiru was killed in March 2012, with her body later discovered in a septic tank at a hotel in Nanyuki, nearly three months after she had allegedly spent an evening partying with British soldiers. The court's Justice Alexander Muteti stated that prosecutors had provided sufficient evidence to request that the accused appear before a Kenyan court for trial.
The lawyer representing Ms. Wanjiru's family, Kamau Mbiu, expressed a sense of hope, stating that the ruling would pave the way for extradition proceedings for the suspect from the UK.
We welcome it, but we urge greater transparency, as this remains a matter of public interest, Mr. Mbiu added.
The judge has also mandated that the identities of the accused and witnesses remain confidential to safeguard the trial's integrity. A UK government spokesperson expressed condolences for Agnes Wanjiru's family and reaffirmed their commitment to helping them secure justice, noting that they could not comment further due to the ongoing legal processes.
The UK's Ministry of Defence has previously stated it is cooperating with the Kenyan investigation into this case, which has evoked outrage in Kenya. The family, who live near the British Army Training Unit in Kenya, has been persistent in their pursuit of justice for Agnes, who left behind a five-month-old daughter.
Ms. Wanjiru's niece, Esther Njoki, described the warrant as a bitter-sweet moment, acknowledging that the extradition might be a lengthy process. The prosecution assured the court that witnesses currently in the UK would be available for the trial, providing hope that the judicial proceedings could advance without further delays.
Tessa Gregory, the family's legal representative in the UK, has called on the British government to use its influence to ensure the accused's swift extradition to face trial in Kenya.
