A Nairobi High Court has issued an arrest warrant for a British citizen accused of involvement in the death of a young Kenyan mother more than a decade ago.
Justice Alexander Muteti ruled that there was “probable cause” to order the arrest and trial of the suspect.
The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) said evidence directly links the UK citizen to the murder of Agnes Wanjiru in 2012.
Wanjiru, a 21-year-old mother, was found dead in a septic tank near Nanyuki after a night out with British soldiers stationed in the area.
Britain has maintained a permanent army garrison in the town since Kenya’s independence.
The ODPP confirmed that extradition proceedings will now be initiated to bring the suspect before a Kenyan court.
The British High Commission in Nairobi has not yet commented on the development.
Wanjiru’s sister, Rose Wanyua Wanjiku, welcomed the decision.
“As a family, we are very happy because it has been many years. Now we can see a step has been made. Let justice prevail,” she told AFP.
The case has long stirred controversy.
In 2021, The Sunday Times reported that a soldier had confessed to fellow troops about killing Wanjiru and even showed them her body.
However, the revelation was reportedly covered up by military superiors.
Kenyan investigators reopened the case in 2019, but progress was slow.
British Defence Minister John Healey met Wanjiru’s family earlier this year, promising to accelerate justice.
Tensions remain between Nairobi and London over the jurisdiction of British soldiers accused of crimes in Kenya.
While the UK maintains that its troops fall outside Kenyan court authority, local activists argue this undermines accountability.
The British Army Training Unit in Kenya provides jobs and revenue for Nanyuki but has faced repeated criticism over misconduct claims against its soldiers.
The latest court order increases pressure on both governments to resolve the long-delayed case.
