A Kenyan High Court has issued an arrest warrant for a British national suspected of murdering a 21-year-old woman over a decade ago.
Agnes Wanjiru was killed in March 2012 and her body later found in a septic tank of a hotel in the central garrison town of Nanyuki nearly three months after she had allegedly spent an evening partying with British soldiers.
Justice Alexander Muteti stated that prosecutors had provided sufficient evidence to request that the suspect appear before a Kenyan court for trial.
The lawyer representing Ms. Wanjiru's family, Kamau Mbiu, expressed that the ruling paves the way for proceedings to start for the suspect's extradition from the UK.
We welcome it, but we urge greater transparency, as this remains a matter of public interest, Mr. Mbiu emphasized.
The identities of the accused and witnesses have been ordered to remain confidential to protect the integrity of the trial.
A statement from a UK government spokesperson expressed continued support for Ms. Wanjiru's family in their pursuit of justice, emphasizing cooperation with the Kenyan investigation, which has caused public outrage in the region.
The family of Ms. Wanjiru, who left behind a five-month-old daughter, continues to fight for justice. They reside in Nanyuki, near the British Army Training Unit Kenya, and have long sought accountability for her death. This warrant is a bitter-sweet moment, said Wanjiru's niece, who recognized the challenges ahead in the extradition process.
With witnesses in the UK poised to participate, the prosecution aims to expedite the trial. Family legal representative Tessa Gregory urged the British government to ensure a swift extradition process.
