Justice remains elusive even as UK’s top official meets family of woman murdered by British soldier
Wanjiru was allegedly killed by a British soldier, and her body dumped in a hotel septic tank two months after her disappearance following a night out with a group of UK soldiers.
The family of Agnes Wanjiru on Monday met with United Kingdom Defence Secretary John Healey, 13 years since the gruesome murder of their kin in Nanyuki that was clandestinely covered up.
Wanjiru was allegedly killed by a British soldier, and her body dumped in a hotel septic tank two months after her disappearance following a night out with a group of UK soldiers.
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The family’s search for justice has remained elusive despite the public pressure from Kenyans and human rights activists who have accused the UK of orchestrating colonial tendencies by “refusing” to hand over the killer soldier for prosecution.
Their meeting with Healey renewed hope for justice. After meeting the family, Healey expressed his determination to see a resolution of the case that has seen the family seek justice 13 years on.
“We will continue to offer our full support to the Kenyan investigatory authorities, which has included visits by Kenyan investigators to the UK to interview witnesses and of the Provost Marshal (Serious Crime) to Kenya,” said the Defence Secretary.
Healey is expected to meet President William Ruto later today to discuss, among other things, accelerating the progress of the murder inquest.
“Our Government will continue to do everything we can to help the family secure the justice they deserve,” he said.
Accountability
Wanjiru’s family expressed hope after meeting the Defence Secretary, with expectation that it is a step towards healing the trauma and struggle they have encountered in trying to seek justice and accountability for her death.
“It is now more than 13 years since Agnes was killed and almost 6 years since a Kenyan inquest found that she had been murdered by British soldiers, yet so little progress appears to have been made since then,” they stated.
The family said that in their 13-year wait for justice, they have been offered many empty promises.
“We hope that our meeting with the Secretary of State marks the beginning of the UK government and Ministry of Defence taking decision action to ensure that what happened to Agnes is properly investigated in Kenya and the UK and to make sure that what happened to Agnes never happens again. We expect the UK and Kenyan governments to act and bring closure to this matter,” said the family.
In 2023, when King Charles visited Kenya, the family extended to him a heartfelt invitation to meet them.
Esther Njoki, who refers to Wanjiru as her aunt, in a passionate plea published in “DECLASSIFIED UK” on October 30, 2023, cried that it pains her to tell Wanjiru’s family that justice for Agnes has not yet been met. She claimed there had been a massive cover-up, starting from the moment her body was dumped in a hotel septic tank.
She wrote, “Although an inquest found my aunt was murdered by one or more British soldiers, the coroner warned ominously: It is possible that even after stating a decision in this opinion, no action may be taken by any of those charged with doing so. If that be the case, then those who know the fate that befell Agnes on the night of March 31, 2012 shall be in the Hound of Heaven”.
According to the distraught family, key witnesses are yet to be interviewed by police, and we worry time is running out. One of them, Moses Moiyare, passed away in 2022. It makes our hearts break because he saw the events of that day.
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