Agnes Wanjiru was discovered in a septic tank near a British army camp in Kenya in 2012
The relatives of Agnes Wanjiru, a Kenyan woman allegedly killed by a British soldier in 2012, have condemned the postponement of an extradition hearing involving the suspect until May 2027.
The family described the decision as unacceptable, expressing frustration over the prolonged wait for justice and a lack of communication from the relevant authorities.
Robert James Purkiss, a 38-year-old former British serviceman accused of murdering Wanjiru, was scheduled to appear at the hearing next month.
British ex-soldier Robert James Purkiss
He was arrested in the United Kingdom in November 2025 and is resisting extradition to Kenya, where he would face a murder trial. He has denied the accusation.
Wanjiru’s niece, Esther Njoki, told the BBC that relatives learned about the rescheduling through the British embassy without receiving an official explanation.
In a statement, the family said years of waiting had tested their endurance, adding that continued delays were undermining their patience. They stressed that Wanjiru deserved justice, while her daughter, Stacy, needed answers about her mother’s death.
The relatives disclosed that they had raised funds and organised travel arrangements to attend the proceedings, which were expected to begin in three weeks.
They are now urging officials to accelerate the legal process, warning that another postponement would push the case into its 15th year without a trial.
A British court is expected to clarify the reasons behind the adjournment next week.
Wanjiru disappeared in March 2012 after spending an evening at a hotel in Nanyuki, approximately 200 kilometres north of Nairobi, where British troops were based for military exercises.
Her remains were discovered nearly three months later inside the establishment’s septic tank.
Investigators found that she had sustained knife injuries to her chest and abdomen. At the time of her disappearance, she was a 21-year-old mother with a five-month-old baby.
A Kenyan inquest conducted in 2019 determined that one or two British soldiers had unlawfully caused her death.
In September 2025, Kenya’s High Court issued an arrest warrant for a British citizen after prosecutors submitted evidence they considered sufficient to support murder charges.
Purkiss subsequently challenged the proposed extradition. He appeared remotely before Westminster Magistrates’ Court in February and was ordered to remain in custody.
Last year, former British Defence Secretary John Healey met Wanjiru’s relatives during an official visit to Kenya, promising government assistance in pursuing accountability.
The British government has previously reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the family but declined to discuss the matter because the legal proceedings remain active.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong