A Kenyan high court has issued an arrest warrant for a British national suspected of murdering Agnes Wanjiru, a 21-year-old Kenyan woman found dead in a septic tank at a hotel in Nanyuki in 2012.
Wanjiru, a hairdresser and mother to a five-month-old daughter, was last seen with British soldiers at the Lion’s Court hotel on March 31, 2012.
Her death has sparked outrage in Kenya and prompted multiple investigations over the past decade.
The warrant marks a significant step toward accountability, with Kenyan authorities now pursuing extradition proceedings to bring the suspect to trial.
High Court Judge Alexander Muteti issued the warrant, stating that prosecutors presented sufficient evidence to charge the suspect with murder.
The prosecution confirmed that witnesses, currently based in the United Kingdom, will be made available for the trial.
The court was informed that the accused, previously linked to the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) in Nanyuki, has been formally charged.
To protect the trial’s integrity, the judge ordered that the identities of the accused and witnesses remain confidential.
Wanjiru’s family, who have endured over a decade of grief, expressed relief at the warrant’s issuance. They said in a statement:
The reports that an arrest warrant has been issued against a UK citizen is a significant moment for us and is incredibly welcome.
Their lawyer, Tessa Gregory, urged the British government to ensure the suspect’s swift extradition.
The UK Ministry of Defence has pledged cooperation with the investigation, and Defence Secretary John Healey recently reaffirmed support for the family’s quest for justice.
The case is scheduled for further mention in court on October 21, with no set timeline for extradition or trial.