Over a decade following the tragic loss of Agnes Wanjiru, a young 21-year-old mother, to a suspected act of violence by a British soldier in Kenya, a significant development has emerged. In a notable stride toward justice, a Kenyan court has issued an arrest warrant for a UK national implicated in Agnes’s murder. This marks a pivotal moment as it would represent the first instance where a British soldier, whether currently serving or retired, faces trial abroad for the killing of a civilian. This effort for justice has been championed by Agnes’s friends and family, a journey marked by prolonged pain and a relentless pursuit for accountability.
On the fateful night of March 31, 2012, Agnes, along with a friend, sought a momentary escape from their recent motherhood, planning to unwind at a local bar, Lion’s Court Hotel, situated in Nanyuki, a town in central Kenya, about 120 miles north of Nairobi. Agnes hoped to break the monotony of her challenging existence, having become a mother and facing significant financial struggles without support from her child’s father. Her daily earnings fluctuated, from as low as KSh 300 on good days to nothing on bad days, with her elder sister occasionally aiding her financially. Friends and family recall Agnes’s determination to make ends meet, often seeking unconventional means due to her dire circumstances.
That evening’s plan unfolded with Agnes meeting her friend at the bar, a place frequented by British soldiers due to Kenya’s military training grounds nearby. The presence of these soldiers, known among locals as “Johnnies,” was a common sight, yet one that carried connotations of mistreatment and disrespect towards Kenyan women. Agnes and her friend had encountered these soldiers before, which made Agnes apprehensive. However, the atmosphere took a concerning turn when Agnes was seen in a tense exchange with a white man at another bar they visited.
Despite initial reservations, Agnes seemed to have eased into the night, joking and dancing with friends at Lion’s Court Hotel. Eventually, she left with a white man, an act believed to have been a voluntary choice. However, when morning arrived without Agnes, concern crept in, leading her friends to report her missing and eventually discovering her body nearly three months later, after an extensive and desperate search. An inquest in 2019 by Kenyan Judge Njeri Thuku concluded that Agnes was likely murdered by one or two British soldiers, a claim bolstered by testimonies that such events were not isolated among the soldiers stationed in Nanyuki.
The movement toward justice gained momentum again in 2024 when Open Democracy exposed the British Army’s failure to discipline soldiers for paid sex despite such practices being explicitly forbidden. This revelation spurred an internal investigation earlier this year, which uncovered instances of transactional sex involving vulnerable women, spotlighting a broader issue of exploitation. In a gesture of solidarity and support, the UK Defense Secretary, John Healy, met Agnes’s family in Kenya in April, offering condolences and pledging the British government’s commitment to aiding in the pursuit of justice for Agnes.
The recent issuance of an arrest warrant for a British national marks a new chapter in this long and challenging journey to justice. Agnes’s niece, Esther Njoki, has initiated a GoFundMe campaign to support the family’s efforts to travel to the UK and raise awareness about Agnes’s murder. Through these efforts, there is hope for a measure of closure and justice for Agnes and her family, a hope long delayed but persistently nurtured by those who have championed her cause.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce3yn033xewo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss
