Kenya's Court of Justice Issues Arrest Warrant for UK Citizen in 21-Year-Old Woman's Murder Case
Rose Wanyua
The nation's superior court has authorized an warrant for arrest for a UK citizen suspected of murdering a young mother over ten years past.
Agnes Wanjiru was killed in March 2012, and her body was later found in a sewage pit of a inn in the army base city of Nanyuki town about three months after she had reportedly enjoyed an night socializing with soldiers from Britain.
The presiding judge said that authorities submitted adequate grounds to seek that the suspect appear before a court in Kenya for a court case.
Legal counsel for the victim's relatives, Kamau Mbiu, informed reporters that the ruling paved the way for proceedings to start for the suspect's extradition from the UK.
"This is positive, but we call for more openness, as this is still a subject of public concern," the lawyer commented.
The court instructed that the identities of the accused and witnesses not be published, stating this was necessary in order to ensure the legitimacy of the proceedings.
In a statement, a representative from Britain said: "We continue to think with the family of Agnes Wanjiru, and we are fully dedicated to helping them secure justice."
It was added that nothing more would be provided at the present time because of the active court case.
The UK's Ministry of Defence has previously said it is working alongside the inquiry in Kenya into the case, which has led to protests in the country.
Her loved ones, who was survived by a infant child, have persistently campaigned for justice.
They live in Nanyuki, which is near the UK military training base - some 200km from the capital, Nairobi.
Her relative, Njoki, told reporters that the decision felt like "mixed emotions", noting the extradition process could take time.
The prosecution told the tribunal that people living in the United Kingdom would be made available for the court case, guaranteeing its continuation.
The family's UK-based attorney, Attorney Gregory, said it now called upon "UK authorities to do everything in its power to ensure that the individual faces trial and face trial in Kenya as soon as possible."
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