Robert James Purkiss, a 38-year-old former British soldier, is at the center of a legal and diplomatic storm after his arrest in Wiltshire, England, on November 6, 2025. Purkiss faces extradition to Kenya, where authorities allege he murdered 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru in 2012—a case that has haunted two nations for over a decade and become a symbol of the long, fraught quest for justice.
Agnes Wanjiru, a young mother to a five-month-old baby, vanished on the night of March 31, 2012, after socializing with friends and British soldiers at the Lion's Court Hotel in Nanyuki, Kenya. Her disappearance sent shockwaves through her community. Three months later, her decomposed body was found in a septic tank near the hotel, just a stone's throw from a British army training camp, according to reports from BBC and Sky News.
The discovery of Wanjiru's body ignited outrage and suspicion. An inquest launched in 2018, following years of pressure from Wanjiru’s family and Kenyan rights groups, concluded in 2019 that she had been unlawfully killed by one or two British soldiers. The post-mortem revealed she had suffered stab wounds to her chest and abdomen, and a collapsed lung—injuries that, as a magistrate noted, suggested she might have still been alive when placed in the septic tank.
Despite the damning findings, the case languished for years. Wanjiru’s family accused both the British army of a cover-up and Kenyan authorities of failing to properly investigate the murder at the time. The protracted delay in securing justice became a source of mounting frustration and grief for her family, as well as a point of diplomatic tension between Kenya and the United Kingdom.
In September 2025, after renewed pressure and advocacy—including a meeting between Wanjiru’s niece, Esther Njoki, and the UK Defence Secretary—Kenyan authorities issued an arrest warrant for Purkiss. Extradition proceedings began immediately after his arrest by the UK's National Crime Agency, with Purkiss appearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court on November 7, 2025. He was remanded in custody and is scheduled to appear again on November 14.
In court, Purkiss stated he does not consent to extradition. His legal team, funded in part by the Ministry of Defence, insists he "vehemently denies" the murder charge. District Judge Briony Clarke underscored the gravity of the allegations, telling Purkiss, "You are sought by Kenya to face this allegation of murder. You face a very serious allegation."
Prosecutors presented evidence in court that painted a troubling picture of the events surrounding Wanjiru’s death. Joel Smith KC, representing the Home Office, told the court that soldiers stationed in Kenya often frequented local bars, drank heavily, and paid local women for sex. On the night of Wanjiru’s disappearance, many—including Purkiss—were at the Lion's Court Hotel. Smith described how Wanjiru was last seen leaving the hotel with a soldier, telling a friend she was going to "hustle for her daughter." She was never seen alive again.
Smith also recounted the chilling aftermath: a colleague saw Purkiss crying outside the hotel and, when asked why, Purkiss allegedly said, "I've killed her." Another soldier later recalled Purkiss describing the incident as "sex that went wrong." The court heard that Purkiss had even shown a fellow soldier the septic tank where Wanjiru’s body was eventually discovered. In 2018, years after the murder, Purkiss reportedly responded to a Facebook post referencing the Lion's Court Hotel and the septic tank with a "smiling face emoji," further fueling suspicions.
Wanjiru’s family has endured years of anguish. Her niece, Esther Njoki, speaking through the family’s lawyers at Leigh Day, expressed relief at the recent arrest: "My family is incredibly relieved to hear that the suspect in my aunt's case has been arrested. We have waited so many years for this moment, which marks an important step towards finally obtaining justice for our beloved Agnes." Leigh Day partner Tessa Gregory added, "We hope the UK and Kenyan authorities will now work together to ensure the suspect can face trial in Kenya as quickly as possible."
The case has not only devastated a family but also strained diplomatic ties. Kenyan authorities and rights groups have long criticized the defense cooperation agreement between the UK and Kenya, arguing it has shielded suspects and complicated prosecution efforts. The British Army Training Unit in Kenya, a permanent fixture since the country’s independence in 1963, has faced growing scrutiny over allegations of misconduct and abuses by its personnel.
In 2021, a Sunday Times investigation reported that a British soldier had confessed to colleagues that he killed Wanjiru. That soldier left the army and remained in the UK. The British army, responding to mounting criticism, launched an internal review in 2024 into the conduct of its soldiers in Kenya. The review uncovered 35 suspected cases of sexual exploitation and abuse involving local women, nine of which occurred after a formal ban on such conduct in 2022. These findings have only intensified calls for accountability and reform.
British authorities, for their part, have been cautious in their public statements. A government spokesperson told Reuters, "It would be inappropriate to comment while there are ongoing legal proceedings." Nevertheless, the Ministry of Defence reaffirmed in September its commitment to assisting Wanjiru’s family in seeking justice. The new UK government, led by Labour since July 2024, has pledged to support the Kenyan investigation and "secure a resolution to this case," signaling a possible shift in approach from previous administrations.
As the extradition proceedings continue, the case remains a flashpoint for broader concerns about military accountability, the rights of local communities, and the lingering shadows of colonial-era relationships. For the people of Nanyuki, the British army base is both an economic lifeline and a source of deep resentment, with allegations of abuse and indifference to civilian suffering persisting over the years.
For Wanjiru’s family, the hope is that this long-awaited arrest marks the beginning of the end of their ordeal. As Esther Njoki poignantly urged, "We urge the United Kingdom to expedite the extradition on their end so that there are no more delays in this case." With the world watching, both governments now face the challenge of ensuring that justice is not only promised, but finally delivered.
