The family of Agnes Wanjiru has responded with frustration to news that an extradition hearing for Robert James Purkiss, a former British soldier accused of her murder, has been delayed. The hearing, originally scheduled for next month in London, has now been rescheduled to May 2027. Wanjiru’s relatives learned of the postponement through the UK embassy and stated they had not received official communication from authorities about the decision.
Wanjiru, aged 21 and a mother of a young child, disappeared in March 2012 after an evening at a hotel in Nanyuki, where British military personnel were stationed for training. Her remains were discovered approximately three months later in a septic tank at the hotel, bearing stab wounds. A 2019 Kenyan inquest determined she had been unlawfully killed, possibly by one or more British soldiers. Following evidence presented by prosecutors, a Kenyan High Court issued an arrest warrant in September 2025, leading to charges being filed.
Purkiss was arrested in the UK last November and is contesting his extradition to Kenya. He has denied the accusations. The family expressed concern that the postponement extends the case into its 15th year without trial and stated they had made travel arrangements and raised funds for the hearing that was due in three weeks. Wanjiru’s niece, Esther Njoki, stated in a public statement that the family deserves dignity, transparency about legal proceedings, and justice for Wanjiru and her daughter.
The family is calling on authorities to accelerate the proceedings and noted that a UK court was expected to provide reasons for the delay in the following week. The British government has previously committed to supporting efforts to achieve justice for the family, though it has declined to comment on specific legal proceedings.
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