(MENAFN) A former British soldier, Robert James Purkiss, 38, has been arrested in Tidworth, Wiltshire, in connection with the 2012 murder of Kenyan woman Agnes Wanjiru. Purkiss appeared in a London court on Friday for an initial extradition hearing and was remanded in custody until 14 November, the National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed.

Wanjiru, 21, disappeared after reportedly spending a night with British soldiers, and her mutilated body was later discovered in a hotel septic tank near the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK). A 2019 Kenyan inquiry found British soldiers responsible for her death and recommended further investigation. In 2021, a British soldier reportedly confessed, but charges were only filed recently, reigniting tensions between Nairobi and London over jurisdictional issues involving UK forces in Kenya.

The case highlights longstanding allegations of serious crimes by British troops stationed in Kenya, including sexual exploitation, murder, and environmental violations. An internal investigation by the UK Ministry of Defence in August revealed repeated violations of laws intended to curb abuse by soldiers in the country. Wanjiru’s family, through their lawyer Mbiyu Kamau, criticized London for a lack of cooperation in pursuing justice, underscoring the diplomatic sensitivity of the case.

MENAFN10112025000045017640ID1110320753