The High Court has directed that the murder case of Agnes Wanjiru be mentioned on December 16, following confirmation that the prime suspect, Robert James Purkiss, is currently in the custody of British authorities.
Purkiss, a former British soldier, is accused of killing Wanjiru in 2012. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) informed the court that official information indicates Purkiss is being held in the United Kingdom, where the courts are scheduled to conduct case management proceedings on December 9 as part of the ongoing extradition process.
“We have received updated communication that the suspect is being held by UK authorities. The UK courts will be handling case management on December 9, and we request a mention date after that,” the prosecution stated.
High Court Judge Alexander Muteti agreed with the prosecution’s request and set December 16 as the next mention date. On that date, the ODPP is expected to brief the court on the outcome of the UK proceedings and outline the next steps in the extradition process.
The family of Agnes Wanjiru, through their lawyer, welcomed the update, expressing gratitude for the cooperation between the Kenyan and UK governments. “We appreciate the work being done by both the Kenyan and UK governments in this matter,” the family said, while acknowledging that extradition is often a lengthy and procedural process requiring patience.
The December 16 mention is anticipated to provide clearer direction on the progress of extradition efforts and the legal pathway forward in the quest for justice for Agnes Wanjiru, whose murder shocked Kenya more than a decade ago.
This development marks a significant step in a case that has seen years of legal hurdles and international coordination, offering hope to Wanjiru’s family that the pursuit of justice is moving closer to resolution.
