NAIROBI, Kenya – The High Court has issued a warrant of arrest for a United Kingdom national accused of murdering Kenyan woman Agnes Wanjiru in 2012, in a case that has drawn international attention and scrutiny of British military presence in the country.
Justice Alexander Muteti granted the order on Tuesday after prosecutors argued that the suspect, who is outside Kenya’s jurisdiction, had failed to appear before authorities despite years of investigations.
Court filings state that Wanjiru, 21, was last seen alive on the night of March 31, 2012, in the company of British soldiers at Lions Court Lodge in Nanyuki, Laikipia County. Her body was discovered three months later in a septic tank near the same lodge.
In 2014, then-Director of Public Prosecutions ordered an inquest, which concluded that Wanjiru was murdered. However, no suspect was charged at the time.
The case resurfaced in 2021 when the Sunday Times reported that the identity of the alleged perpetrator was known to soldiers who were present that night.
Prosecutors Vincent Monda and Gikui Gichuhi told the court that the suspect has remained abroad, making cooperation with international authorities necessary.
They asked the court to issue a warrant to initiate extradition proceedings.
“There is probable cause to order an arrest for the accused to surrender before this court for trial,” Justice Muteti ruled. He directed Kenyan law enforcement to work with international partners to enforce the order.
The case will be mentioned again on October 21, 2025.
