Thirteen years after the brutal killing of Kenyan woman Agnes Wanjiru, the case has taken a decisive turn as a High Court in Kenya issued an arrest warrant for the British soldier suspected of her murder. The move sets the stage for a landmark extradition process that could see the accused face trial in Kenya.
The suspect, identified only as Robert, is a 38-year-old father of two from Greater Manchester. He served as a medic in the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment and was stationed at the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) in Nanyuki during the time of Wanjiru’s death in 2012. He is currently believed to be living in the UK, working as a home computer support technician near Salisbury.
Agnes Wanjiru, then 21, was last seen leaving a Nanyuki bar with a British soldier. Her body was discovered weeks later in a septic tank at a local hotel, bearing multiple stab wounds. A 2019 Kenyan investigation concluded that she had been murdered by one or more soldiers.
In 2021, a fellow soldier from the same regiment came forward, claiming the suspect had confessed and led him to the site where Wanjiru’s body was dumped. Despite mounting pressure, the identity of the accused remained undisclosed for years.
Earlier this year, UK Defence Secretary John Healey visited Wanjiru’s family in Kenya and pledged the British government’s commitment to ensuring justice.
On Tuesday, September 16, High Court Judge Alexander Muteti issued an arrest warrant after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) confirmed that the suspect had been formally charged with murder but failed to appear in court.
The court also authorized the public release of the suspect’s details, marking a significant shift in the case’s transparency.
Prosecutors have now initiated extradition proceedings, seeking cooperation from the UK government to return the suspect to Kenya for trial.
If successful, this would be the first time a British serviceman is extradited to a foreign country to face murder charges involving a civilian.
Judge Muteti scheduled the next mention of the case for October 21, 2025, to confirm compliance with the arrest warrant and progress on extradition.
The British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), based in Nanyuki, has long been a symbol of UK-Kenya military cooperation.
Link to this News: http://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/116429-profile-british-soldier-accused-agnes-wanjirus-murder
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