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A detention order was granted for a British national accused of the murder of Kenya-born woman Agnes Wanjiru, whose remains was found in 2012 on the grounds of a lodge near a military base.

Court Proceedings and Extradition Request

Presiding justice the Kenyan judge issued the warrant on Tuesday, with prosecutors confirming that a individual had been formally charged with murder and that extradition steps would be begun.

Testifiers based in the United Kingdom are scheduled to testify during the court case, as stated by the legal team. “Those individuals are in United Kingdom but we will avail them,” the court was informed.

Background of the Incident

Agnes Wanjiru, twenty-one, was last seen with UK troops on the evening of March 31, 2012 at the Lion’s Court hotel in her hometown.

She disappeared that evening, and after a long search her body was found inside a septic tank at the hotel.

The deceased was employed as a stylist and at times sold sex work to supplement her income. She was survived by a child, her young girl, who was an infant at the time of her mother’s disappearance.

Family’s Reaction and Legal Steps

“We have lived with the anguish of Agnes’s death for more than ten years,” the relatives stated. “The reports that an arrest warrant has been granted is a major moment for us.”

The family’s legal representative added: “The family now urges the UK authorities to take all steps in its power to ensure that the suspect can be extradited and stands trial in Kenya as soon as possible.”

If the individual is sent to Kenya, it would represent the initial instance a current or former British serviceman has been transferred to another country to be prosecuted for the murder of a civilian.

Probe and Past Examinations

Thus far, the death of the victim has been the focus of multiple inquiries and numerous criminal investigations.

The venue at the establishment was a frequented location for UK troops stationed at the local training unit.

An individual was named by multiple servicemen following a newspaper investigation in 2021.

Since then, Kenyan detectives have allegedly traveled to the UK on several occasions to interview military personnel who were present at the time of the incident.

Government Response

Earlier this year, the UK defence secretary visited the relatives and vowed full support for the investigation.

“I was profoundly moving to meet the family of Agnes Wanjiru,” the official said. “In the long years since her death, they have shown great resilience in their pursuit for accountability.”

Next Steps

No date has been confirmed for the extradition hearing or future trial. The matter is scheduled to be mentioned again in court on October 21.