The Kenyan government has formally begun the process of extraditing a British soldier suspected in the 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru in Nanyuki.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) confirmed that the extradition request has been forwarded to the Attorney General, who serves as the central authority for transmitting such requests to the United Kingdom.
In court, the Attorney General’s office reported that both hard and electronic copies of the extradition documents were sent on October 9 via official diplomatic channels. The UK authorities acknowledged receipt on October 13.
“The extradition process has been initiated. We have done our part and are now waiting for the Attorney General to forward the documents to the UK’s central authority,” the court was told.
Prosecutors requested a status update hearing in January 2026 to track the suspect’s potential arrest and surrender, while emphasizing that efforts to bring justice to Wanjiru’s family are ongoing.
“This is a complex and sensitive process involving multiple agencies across jurisdictions,” the prosecutor explained. “We recognise the family’s pain and frustration after more than a decade, but we ask for continued patience as we proceed.”
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Agnes Wanjiru disappeared in 2012. Her body was later discovered in a septic tank behind a hotel in Nanyuki, where British soldiers had been stationed for joint training exercises with the Kenya Defence Forces.
In a recent ruling, Justice Alexander Muteti acknowledged the slow nature of international extradition processes and noted that Kenya’s influence diminishes once requests are submitted abroad.
However, he rejected the prosecution’s request to delay proceedings until January.
British soldier Robert James Purkiss accused of killing Wanjiru.
Instead, Justice Muteti ordered that the matter be mentioned monthly to ensure close monitoring. The next mention is scheduled for November 24, 2025.
Last month, the same court issued a warrant of arrest for the British suspect believed to be responsible for Wanjiru’s murder.
