A Kenyan High Court has issued an arrest warrant for a British national suspected of murdering a 21-year-old woman more than a decade ago.
Agnes Wanjiru was killed in March 2012, and her body was 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 gratitude for the ruling, which may initiate proceedings 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 added.
The judge instructed that the identities of the accused and witnesses not be revealed, citing the need to protect the integrity of the trial.
A UK government spokesperson conveyed condolences to Wanjiru's family and affirmed their commitment to assisting in securing justice.
The UK's Ministry of Defence has stated it is cooperating with the Kenyan investigation, which has ignited considerable outrage in Kenya. Wanjiru's family, residing close to the British Army Training Unit in Nanyuki, has long sought justice for her tragic death.
Wanjiru's niece, Esther Njoki, referred to the warrant as a bitter-sweet moment, acknowledging that the extradition process could be lengthy. The prosecution assured the court that witnesses based in the UK would be available for the trial to ensure its progression.
Tessa Gregory, the family's legal representative in the UK, urged the British government to expedite the extradition process so that the accused can face trial in Kenya without delay.
