A Kenyan High Court has issued a warrant of arrest against a British national accused of killing Agnes Wanjiru in Nanyuki more than a decade ago. The ruling comes after the prosecution confirmed that the accused has already been charged with murder but has failed to appear before the court.
According to court proceedings, the alleged offence took place during the night of March 31 to April 1, 2012, at a hotel in Nanyuki, Laikipia County. Wanjiru, who was 21 years old at the time, was found dead in a septic tank at the lodge, sparking outrage both locally and internationally. The case has since drawn attention to questions of accountability and justice, particularly given the accused’s status as a foreign national.
The prosecution applied for the arrest warrant to facilitate the extradition of the suspect from the United Kingdom to Kenya, where he is expected to stand trial. They assured the court that key witnesses, although based in the UK, will be made available during the proceedings.
In his directive, the presiding judge emphasized the importance of protecting the integrity of the judicial process. He ordered that neither the names of the accused nor those of witnesses listed in the evidence bundle be published by the media. This restriction aims to safeguard the case from prejudicial reporting and ensure that justice is pursued fairly.
The issuance of the warrant represents a significant step forward in a case that has long been clouded by delays and diplomatic sensitivities. For years, Wanjiru’s family and human rights advocates have demanded accountability, arguing that justice has been denied due to the suspect’s absence from Kenyan courts. The fresh orders signal renewed determination by the judiciary to pursue the matter to its conclusion.
The case also underscores the challenges that arise when crimes involve foreign nationals, especially military or expatriate communities. Extradition processes often require high-level cooperation between governments, and this warrant now places pressure on UK authorities to respond to Kenya’s request.
With the court’s ruling, the focus now shifts to the implementation of the extradition process and the eventual trial. For the family of Agnes Wanjiru, the warrant offers renewed hope that, after more than ten years of waiting, justice may finally be within reach.
