Ex-British soldier arrested in UK over alleged murder of Agnes Wanjiru
National
By
Betty Njeru
| Nov 08, 2025
A former British soldier has been arrested in the United Kingdom over his alleged role in the 2012 murder of Kenyan woman Agnes Wanjiru in Nanyuki.
According to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, the suspect, Robert James Purkiss, has been remanded in the UK and is expected to appear in court on Friday, November 14, for a bail hearing tied to an extradition request.
The BBC reported that Purkiss was arrested on Thursday in Tidworth, Wiltshire, by officers from the National Crime Agency and appeared in court on Friday.
“This significant development follows an extensive and coordinated effort between Kenyan and British authorities. It comes six weeks after the DPP initiated formal extradition proceedings to ensure accountability in the 13-year-old case,” the ODPP said in a statement Saturday, November 8.
Kenya issued an arrest warrant for the former soldier in September, after which the ODPP submitted formal extradition documents to the Attorney General and UK authorities.
READ MORE
This is what it will take for Kenya to gain first-world status by 2055
IATA warns high air travel taxes threat to Kenya's aviation edge
Poor credit culture deters Kenya's lending transition
China's Chery eyes Kenyan auto market with low-cost SUVs
Rwanda's green exchange window presents new funding opportunities for the region
New park fees killing our business, say tour operators
Kabarak University, NCBA partner to boost growth of SMEs
Safaricom injects Sh26b into its Ethiopia unit as profit hits Sh43b
Engineers urged to drive nation's future through innovation and infrastructure
Construction industry in Kenya bounces back, driven by new innovations
Wanjiru was found murdered at the Lions Court Lodge in Nanyuki in 2012.
Her body was recovered from the hotel’s septic tank months after she went missing, sparking public outrage and calls for justice.
Kenyan police have been accused of delaying the investigation, despite a post-mortem showing stab wounds to Wanjiru’s chest and abdomen.
Her family has also accused the British Army of covering up her death.