A Breakthrough Arrest After 13 Years

LONDON, UK – A former British soldier, Robert James Purkiss, 38, was arrested on Thursday, November 6, 2025, in Tidworth, Wiltshire, in connection with the 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru in Nanyuki, Kenya. The arrest, carried out by the UK's National Crime Agency (NCA) National Extradition Unit, marks a pivotal development in a case that has strained diplomatic relations and highlighted issues of accountability for foreign military personnel in Kenya. Purkiss appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Friday, November 7, 2025, where extradition proceedings to Kenya began. He stated his intention to contest the extradition and was remanded in custody until a bail hearing scheduled for Friday, November 14, 2025, EAT.

The Case of Agnes Wanjiru

Agnes Wanjiru, a 21-year-old mother to a five-month-old baby, was last seen alive on March 31, 2012, at the Lion's Court Hotel in Nanyuki, in the company of British soldiers. Her body was discovered two months later in a septic tank on the hotel's property, close to the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK) base. A post-mortem examination revealed she died from stab wounds to her chest and abdomen, with evidence suggesting she had also been beaten. A Kenyan inquest in 2019 concluded that Wanjiru had been unlawfully killed by one or more British soldiers.

The Path to Justice

For over a decade, Wanjiru's family has relentlessly pursued justice, supported by Kenyan human rights organizations. Their efforts gained significant momentum after a 2021 investigation by The Sunday Times reported that a soldier had allegedly confessed to the killing shortly after it occurred. This led to renewed calls for action and increased pressure on both Kenyan and British authorities. In September 2025, a Kenyan High Court judge issued an arrest warrant for a British citizen, paving the way for a formal extradition request. The request was officially sent to the UK in October 2025, leading to Purkiss's arrest.

During the court hearing, prosecutor Joel Smith KC, representing the Home Office, detailed alleged confessions made by Purkiss to fellow soldiers. One soldier reportedly witnessed Purkiss crying on the night of the murder, stating, "I've killed her." Another soldier claimed Purkiss described the incident as "sex that went wrong" and showed him Wanjiru's body in the septic tank. Purkiss's lawyer, David Josse KC, stated that his client "vehemently denies" the murder charge.

Implications for Kenya and UK-Kenya Relations

The arrest is a landmark moment for Kenya, potentially marking the first time a former or serving British soldier will be extradited to face a murder trial in the country. The case has cast a long shadow over the presence of BATUK in Kenya, a relationship governed by a Defence Cooperation Agreement that has been criticized for creating a shield of impunity for British soldiers. For years, communities in Laikipia and Samburu counties have raised numerous complaints against BATUK, ranging from environmental damage, such as the Lolldaiga Conservancy fire in 2021, to other serious crimes including assault and deaths caused by unexploded ordnance.

The successful extradition and prosecution of Purkiss would be a significant step towards accountability and could set a precedent for future cases involving foreign troops. Nelson Koech, the chairperson of Kenya's parliamentary defence committee, has previously stated that the outcome of such cases could influence the future of the UK-Kenya defence agreement. Wanjiru's family expressed their relief at the arrest. Her niece, Esther Njoki, stated, "We have waited so many years for this moment, which marks an important step towards finally obtaining justice for our beloved Agnes."

As the legal process unfolds in London, all eyes in Kenya will be watching to see if a decade of impunity will finally end, delivering long-awaited justice for Agnes Wanjiru and her family.