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More than a decade after Agnes Wanjiru's tragic death in Nanyuki, Kenyan authorities have formally initiated the extradition process for a British soldier identified as a suspect, marking a significant step towards justice for her family.
The Kenyan government has formally commenced the extradition process for Robert James Purkiss, a British soldier suspected in the 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru in Nanyuki. This development was confirmed on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at the Milimani High Court in Nairobi. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) informed Justice Alexander Muteti that the extradition request has been transmitted to the Office of the Attorney General (AG), which serves as Kenya's central authority for such international requests.
State prosecutor Gikui Gichuhi stated that the documentation for Purkiss's extradition was forwarded to the AG's office and officially received on Thursday, October 9, 2025. The AG's office, in turn, dispatched two physical copies and a soft copy of the extradition documents to UK authorities through official diplomatic channels, with receipt acknowledged and stamped by the UK on Monday, October 13, 2025.
Agnes Wanjiru, a 21-year-old mother and freelance hairdresser, disappeared on Saturday, March 31, 2012, after being seen with British soldiers at the Lions Court Lodge in Nanyuki. Her body was discovered two months later in a septic tank near the same facility. An inquest in 2019 concluded that Wanjiru was murdered by one or more British soldiers, leading to the issuance of an arrest warrant for a British national last month.
The case has drawn significant attention and calls for justice, particularly from Wanjiru's family and human rights advocates. The British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK), a permanent training support base in Nanyuki, operates under a Defence Cooperation Agreement between Kenya and the United Kingdom. This agreement outlines the status of visiting forces and arrangements for criminal jurisdiction.
The extradition process is guided by the Mutual Legal Assistance Act agreement between Kenya and the United Kingdom, alongside existing extradition treaties. Justice Muteti emphasized the complexity of extradition, noting it involves diplomatic engagement between the two nations and that Kenyan authorities have limited direct control once the request is transmitted abroad.
The court has ruled that murder is an extraditable offense and found sufficient cause to proceed with charges against the suspect. The ODPP informed the court that evidence gathered by investigators links the British national to the murder.
Wanjiru's family has consistently pressed for accountability. On Tuesday, October 15, 2025, UK Defence Secretary John Healey met with Esther Njoki, Agnes Wanjiru's niece, in London to discuss progress in the case and assure the family of the UK government's support for the investigation. The family's representatives have expressed frustration over the years of delayed action.
A UK newspaper, The Sunday Times, reported in 2021 that Wanjiru was killed by a BATUK soldier, with one soldier allegedly confessing to the murder and showing a colleague the body. Reports also suggest that military police received information about the crime shortly after Wanjiru's death but no immediate action was taken.
A successful extradition would mark a precedent, being the first time a serving or former British soldier is sent to Kenya to face trial for the murder of a civilian. The case highlights ongoing concerns regarding the conduct of foreign military personnel stationed in Kenya and the mechanisms for accountability under existing defence agreements. The Defence Cooperation Agreement between Kenya and the UK provides for concurrency of jurisdiction, with the sending nation having primary jurisdiction in cases where an offense arises out of acts or omissions in the course of duty.
Justice Muteti rejected the prosecution's request for a January 2026 mention, instead ordering monthly updates on the extradition process to ensure accountability and progress. The next court mention is scheduled for Monday, November 24, 2025.
The focus will be on the speed and efficacy of the extradition process, particularly the actions of the UK authorities in responding to Kenya's formal request. The monthly court mentions will provide crucial updates on the progress of the case. The ongoing diplomatic engagement between Kenya and the UK will also be critical in ensuring justice is served.
