A British ex-serviceman has been detained in London in connection with the murder of Kenyan woman Agnes Wanjiru, a case that has remained unresolved for more than a decade and stirred tensions between Kenya and the United Kingdom.
Robert James Purkiss, aged 38, was taken into custody on Thursday by specialist officers from Britain’s National Crime Agency (NCA), following a formal extradition request from Kenya issued in September. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday to begin the legal process for his potential transfer to Kenya.
“The suspect was remanded into custody until his next appearance at the same court on November 14,” the NCA confirmed.
The case traces back to 2012 when Wanjiru, 21, a single mother with a four-month-old child, was last seen at the Lion’s Court Hotel in Nanyuki, Laikipia County, with a group of British soldiers. Her body was later discovered in a septic tank on the hotel premises.
A Kenyan inquest in 2019 found that Wanjiru had been murdered by British soldiers. The magistrate’s report stated she had been beaten and stabbed, and evidence suggested she may have been alive when placed in the septic tank.
The killing has fueled outrage in Kenya, with human rights advocates and Wanjiru’s family criticizing the protracted delay in holding the perpetrators accountable. They argue that agreements protecting foreign troops in Kenya have allowed the accused to avoid justice for years.
Following Kenya’s extradition request in September, British authorities moved to arrest Purkiss, reflecting increased pressure to address long-standing grievances surrounding the case. Britain’s Ministry of Defence reiterated its commitment to helping Wanjiru’s family secure justice.
A British government spokesperson told Reuters on Friday, “It would be inappropriate to comment while there are ongoing legal proceedings.”
The case has attracted wide attention and highlights the challenges in prosecuting foreign soldiers under bilateral defence agreements. It has reignited debates about accountability, the protection of victims’ rights, and the responsibilities of nations hosting foreign military personnel.
As proceedings continue in London, the next court appearance on November 14 is expected to determine the trajectory of Purkiss’s extradition and potentially pave the way for justice for Wanjiru’s family after more than thirteen years of waiting.
