A former British soldier has been charged with the murder of a 21-year-old woman who was stabbed to death more than a decade ago.
Agnes Wanjiru was last seen alive at a party with British soldiers in a Nanyuki hotel in March 2012. Her naked, mutilated body, bearing stab wounds, was discovered in a septic tank three months later.
The mysterious death sparked outrage in Kenya and her family have long been fighting for justice.
In a significant development, a former member of the Duke of Lancaster regiment from the UK, which is the northwestern infantry regiment, faced charges at the Nairobi high court this morning.
Judge Alexander Muteti of the Nairobi High Court confirmed that prosecutors have presented enough evidence to bring the suspect to trial in a Kenyan court.
The Kenyan government is expected to now begin proceedings to extradite the soldier to face trial in Kenya.
The extradition of an ex-British soldier for a murder committed on foreign soil, while on duty in that country, is unprecedented.
A document from the Kenyan high court, reviewed by The Times, indicates: ‘The director of public prosecutions, on behalf of the republic, hereby informs the court that the aforementioned accused is charged with the following crime.’
Agnes Wanjiru, 21, (pictured) was last seen alive with British troops at a hotel in Nanyuki in March 2012
Rose Wanjiru (L) sits outside her home with a relative looking at photos of her late sister, Agnes, in October 2023
The details of the crime state: ‘[Name of the soldier], on the night between March 31 and April 1, 2012, at Lions Court Lodge in Nanyuki, within Laikipia County, committed the murder of Agnes Wanjiru Wanjiku.’
The identities of the accused and witnesses cannot be published for legal reasons.
Ms Wanjiru was last seen with British soldiers on a night out in the Lion’s Court hotel in her home town on March 31 2012.
She went missing that night, and it was approximately three months later that her body was found in the hotel’s septic tank. At the time of her disappearance, she had a five-month-old daughter.
Ms Wanjiru had been stabbed near her waist and had suffered a broken arm and leg. Pathologists later suggested these injuries may not have been fatal – raising the prospect she was still alive when she was dumped in the tank.
Her body was found just 50 yards from rooms which, according to hotel records, had been booked by British soldiers.
An inquest into her death in 2018 concluded she had been murdered by British soldiers.
Rose Wanyua Wanjiku, elder sister to Agnes Wanjiru, holds photographs of Agnes, in November 2021
In October 2021, The Sunday Times reported that a soldier had confessed to his comrades to killing Wanjiru and showed them her body.
The report alleged that the murder was taken to military superiors, but there was no further action.
A Kenyan investigation was opened in 2019 but no results have been disclosed. The ODPP said earlier that a team of senior prosecutors had been assembled to review the case.
Defence Secretary John Healey met the family earlier this year, stressing the need to ‘accelerate progress’ on the case.
A statement issued on Tuesday by Leigh Day, who are acting on behalf of Ms Wanjiru’s family, said: ‘We have lived with the pain of Agnes’ death for over a decade.
‘The reports that an arrest warrant has been issued against a UK citizen is a significant moment for us and is incredibly welcome.
‘We hope this marks the beginning of justice being done for our beloved Agnes.’
London and Nairobi have been at odds over the question of jurisdiction for British soldiers who break the law in Kenya.
The UK has said it does not accept the jurisdiction of the Kenyan court investigating Wanjiru’s death.
Since Kenya gained independence in 1963, Britain has kept a permanent army base near Nanyuki around 200 kilometres (125 miles) north of the capital Nairobi.
The British Army Training Unit in Kenya is an economic lifeline for many in Nanyuki but has faced criticism over incidents of misconduct by its soldiers.
A UK government spokesperson told the Mail: ‘Our thoughts remain with the family of Agnes Wanjiru and we remain absolutely committed to helping them secure justice.
‘We understand that the Kenyan Director of Public Prosecutions has determined that a British National should face trial in relation to the murder of Ms Wanjiru in 2012.
‘This is subject to ongoing legal proceedings and we will not comment further at this stage.’
