Kenyan authorities seek extradition of ex-British soldier for young mum's murder

Robert James Purkiss, 38, a former combat medic and infantryman, has been named in court as the man wanted for the murder of Agnes Wanjiru - and the Kenyan authorities will now try to persuade British counterparts to force him to face trial. The father-of-two, originally from Greater Manchester, served 10 years in the British Army from 2006, working as a medic in several tours of Afghanistan.

 The young mum was last seen alive partying with British troops at a hotel in Nanyuki in March 2012, before her mutilated naked body was found with stab wounds dumped in a septic tank three months later, close to the British base. The violent death sparked fury in Kenya where her family have carried out a lengthy battle for justice. An inquest in 2018 concluded she had been murdered by one or more British soldiers and last week, 13 years after her death, the former Duke of Lancaster regiment infantryman, was charged with murder at the high court in Nairobi. The Kenyan government is now expected to begin extradition proceedings – something previously unprecedented for an ex-British soldier wanted for a murder committed on foreign soil while serving on duty in that country.

Esther Njoki, the spokesperson for Agnes Wanjiru's family, said: “We are happy that finally, after a long wait and frustration, the government has begun to act, although it has taken a long time.

“We have a ray of hope that now the family will be served justice.”

Purkiss currently lives near Salisbury, working as a home computer support technician.

During his career, he served at Catterick Garrison in North Yorkshire and Tidworth barracks in Wiltshire before he moved to Weeton barracks in Blackpool.

Ms Wanjiru was last seen with British soldiers on a night out in the Lion's Court hotel in her home town on March 31, 2012.

She vanished that night until her body was found dumped inside a septic tank at the hotel about three months later. She had a five-month-old daughter at the time of her disappearance.

Ms Wanjiru had been stabbed near her waist and had suffered a broken arm and leg. Pathologists later suggested these injuries may not have been fatal – raising the prospect she was still alive when she was dumped in the tank.

Her body was found just 50 yards from rooms which, according to hotel records, had been booked by British soldiers.

In October 2021, The Sunday Times reported that a soldier had confessed to his comrades to killing Wanjiru and showed them her body.

The report alleged that the murder was taken to military superiors, but there was no further action.

A Kenyan investigation was opened in 2019 but no results have been disclosed. The ODPP said earlier that a team of senior prosecutors had been assembled to review the case.

Defence Secretary John Healey met the family earlier this year, stressing the need to “accelerate progress” on the case.

A statement issued last Tuesday by Leigh Day, who are acting on behalf of Ms Wanjiru's family, said: “We have lived with the pain of Agnes' death for over a decade. The reports that an arrest warrant has been issued against a UK citizen is a significant moment for us and is incredibly welcome.

“We hope this marks the beginning of justice being done for our beloved Agnes.”

London and Nairobi have been at odds over the question of jurisdiction for British soldiers who break the law in Kenya.

The UK has said it does not accept the jurisdiction of the Kenyan court investigating Wanjiru's death.

Since Kenya gained independence in 1963, Britain has kept a permanent army base near Nanyuki, around 200 kilometres (125 miles) north of the capital Nairobi.

The British Army Training Unit in Kenya is an economic lifeline for many in Nanyuki but has faced criticism over incidents of misconduct by its soldiers.

A UK government spokesperson said: “Our thoughts remain with the family of Agnes Wanjiru and we remain absolutely committed to helping them secure justice.

“We understand that the Kenyan Director of Public Prosecutions has determined that a British National should face trial in relation to the murder of Ms Wanjiru in 2012.

“This is subject to ongoing legal proceedings and we will not comment further at this stage.”