Ex-British soldier arrested in UK over Agnes Wanjiru murder
Kenya issued an arrest warrant in September for Purkiss, requesting his return to face charges over the 2012 killing of Wanjiru, then 21, who was a single mother to a five-month-old baby.
More than a decade after her death, the murder of Kenyan woman Agnes Wanjiru has taken a new turn as a former British soldier was arrested in the UK in connection with the case.
Robert James Purkiss, 38, was detained in Tidworth, Wiltshire, on November 6 and appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday, where extradition proceedings began.
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Kenya issued an arrest warrant in September for Purkiss, requesting his return to face charges over the 2012 killing of Wanjiru, then 21, who was a single mother to a five-month-old baby.
She had last been seen at the Lion's Court Hotel in Nanyuki with a group of British soldiers before disappearing. Three months later, her body was found in a septic tank near the hotel, close to a UK army training facility.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) stated that Purkiss was arrested by specialist officers from its National Extradition Unit following the issuance of the warrant.
"Robert James Purkiss, 38, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court today for extradition proceedings to begin," the NCA said. "He was remanded into custody until his next appearance at the same court on November 14."
Purkiss told the court he plans to contest extradition. His lawyers stated that he "vehemently denies" murder.
The case has been a source of anger in Kenya, where delays in prosecuting the suspects have drawn sharp criticism from Wanjiru’s family and human rights advocates.
The family has accused the British army of covering up her death and claimed that Kenyan authorities initially failed to carry out a proper investigation.
Esther Njoki, Wanjiru’s niece, met the UK defence minister last month to push for Purkiss’s extradition.
She said in a statement issued through Leigh Day: "My family is incredibly relieved to hear that the suspect in my aunt's case has been arrested. We have waited so many years for this moment, which marks an important step towards finally obtaining justice for our beloved Agnes."
Leigh Day partner Tessa Gregory added: "This is a huge moment for our client and her family, who have been fighting for over a decade to obtain justice for Agnes Wanjiru. We hope the UK and Kenyan authorities will now work together to ensure the suspect can face trial in Kenya as quickly as possible."
An inquest held in 2019 concluded Wanjiru had been unlawfully killed by one or two British soldiers, suffering stab wounds to the chest and abdomen.
A 2021 investigation by the Sunday Times reported that a British soldier confessed to colleagues that he killed Wanjiru.
The soldier later left the army and remained in the UK.
In 2024, the British army launched an internal review into the conduct of its personnel in Kenya, uncovering 35 suspected cases of sexual exploitation and abuse, nine of which occurred after the army banned such conduct in 2022.
A British government spokesperson told Reuters: "It would be inappropriate to comment while there are ongoing legal proceedings."
The Ministry of Defence reaffirmed in September its commitment to assisting Wanjiru’s family in seeking justice.
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