Kenyan family protests delay in British soldier’s extradition hearing over woman's murder
- Hearing postponed until May 2027 as relatives demand justice nearly 15 years after death of Agnes Wanjiru
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- Hearing postponed until May 2027 as relatives demand justice nearly 15 years after death of Agnes Wanjiru
By Andrew Wasike
NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - The family of a Kenyan woman allegedly murdered by a British soldier 14 years ago has expressed frustration after an extradition hearing for the accused was postponed until May 2027.
"We are very frustrated to hear that the extradition hearing in Agnes' murder case has now been postponed. This will be 15 years since Agnes was murdered, which is completely unacceptable," Esther Njoki, niece of the late Agnes Wanjiru, said in a statement Wednesday.
The hearing for former British soldier Robert James Purkiss, originally scheduled for Nov. 16, 2026, has been pushed back to May 24, 2027.
The family said it learned of the postponement by chance, without any official explanation, despite having raised funds and arranged travel to Britain for the hearing.
"Our family has remained committed to pursuing justice through the appropriate legal channels. We have exercised patience and endured uncertainty for years, but our patience is now being taken advantage of," Njoki said.
Wanjiru, a 21-year-old mother, disappeared in March 2012 after reportedly being seen with British soldiers at a hotel in Nanyuki, central Kenya. Her body was later discovered in a septic tank at the hotel.
In September 2025, a Kenyan court issued an arrest warrant for Purkiss, prompting authorities to seek his extradition from Britain.
Purkiss was arrested in the UK in November 2025 and appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court in London. He denies the murder allegation and has opposed extradition to Kenya.
The case has strained relations over the conduct of British military personnel stationed in Kenya under a longstanding defense cooperation agreement.
In April 2025, then-British Defense Secretary John Healey met Wanjiru's family and pledged continued cooperation with Kenyan authorities in pursuing justice.
The family is now urging British authorities to expedite the extradition proceedings.
"Agnes deserves justice. Her daughter Stacy deserves answers about what happened. And as a family we deserve to be treated with dignity and kept informed about proceedings that profoundly affect our lives," Njoki said.
Andrew Wasike