FIDA-Kenya presses Kenya, UK to extradite soldier in Agnes Wanjiru murder case
In a statement on Wednesday, the group welcomed the recent High Court ruling that issued a warrant of arrest for the suspect, describing it as a major step in the long fight for justice.
The Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA-Kenya) has urged Kenya and the United Kingdom to move quickly on the extradition of a British soldier linked to the 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru in Nanyuki, saying the suspect must face trial before a Kenyan court.
In a statement on Wednesday, the group welcomed the recent High Court ruling that issued a warrant of arrest for the suspect, describing it as a major step in the long fight for justice.
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“The extradition and prosecution of the perpetrator will send a clear message that violence against women will not be tolerated and impunity will no longer prevail,” said FIDA-Kenya.
Justice Alexander Muteti issued the court order, ruled that prosecutors had presented enough evidence to demand the suspect’s appearance in court.
The decision paves the way for extradition proceedings to begin.
Agnes Wanjiru, then 21 years old, went missing on the night of March 31, 2012, after being seen in the company of British soldiers at a Nanyuki entertainment joint often visited by members of the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK).
Her body was discovered on June 5, the same year, in a septic tank at a local hotel. An autopsy showed she had been stabbed, beaten and was likely alive when thrown into the tank.
FIDA-Kenya said it has consistently pressed for accountability in the case, including submissions made during parliamentary inquiries into BATUK's conduct.
The organisation stressed that justice for Wanjiru, her daughter and her family is long overdue after thirteen years of pain.
The group also praised the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for securing the arrest warrant and asked authorities in both Nairobi and London to fast-track the extradition process.
“It will also reaffirm Kenya’s commitment to the rule of law and the dignity of women while strengthening international cooperation in upholding justice,” the statement added.
Wanjiru’s family lawyer, Kamau Mbiu, told the BBC the ruling cleared the way for the extradition request to be lodged with the UK.
FIDA-Kenya concluded its statement by reaffirming solidarity with Wanjiru’s family and vowing to keep pushing for truth and justice for all women and girls who face violence.
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