Kenya moves to extradite British soldier over Agnes Wanjiru murder

The decade-long unresolved murder of Agnes Wanjiru has now taken a diplomatic turn, with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs initiating extradition proceedings against a British suspect who was recently slapped with a warrant of arrest for the heinous crime committed 13 years ago.

“As Ministry of Interior, we have done our part with concluding the investigations and have now handed the matter to the Foreign Affairs and Defense ministries,” said Murkomen.

Speaking at the Jukwaa la Usalama security assessment baraza in Siaya County, CS Murkomen said Kenya’s criminal justice system expects full cooperation from UK authorities to facilitate the extradition of the murder suspect to face justice.

“I don’t think we will struggle to find cooperation between Kenya and UK. We have had a long pre and post-independence cordial relationship,” he noted. 

However, lawyers caution that the extradition case involving the British murder suspect could drag on for years or even risk collapsing altogether.

“The file will be forwarded to the UK Attorney General who will review the file. There ought to be diplomatic goodwill for UK to fully cooperate or otherwise dismiss the case against its citizen,” said lawyer Mbiu Kamau.

If extradited to face murder charges over Agnes Wanjiru’s killing, the Briton would become the first foreign serviceman to be tried on Kenyan soil.

“This particular suspect will form the basis for the actualization of the defense agreement which seeks to have foreign troops committing murder face trial on Kenyan soil,” said Belgut MP Nelson Koech, chair of the defense committee.

On Tuesday, High Court judge Alexander Muteti granted the ODPP a warrant of arrest against the British national wanted over the 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru in Nanyuki, Laikipia County.