By Grace Gilo
The Milimani High Court today issued a warrant of arrest against the prime suspect in the 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru Wanjiku, which occurred in Nanyuki town, Laikipia East Sub-County.
According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), the case, which has remained unresolved since Wanjiru’s tragic death in 2012, saw her body discovered inside a septic tank at the Lion’s Court Lodge in Nanyuki, Laikipia East Sub-County, after she was last seen in the company of a British Army soldier.
“Agnes, then aged 21, was last seen alive on the night of March 31, 2012, in the company of a British Army soldier in uniform at the Lion’s Court Lodge. Her body was later discovered on June 5, 2012, inside a septic tank at the same lodge,” stated the DCI.
The case was initially reported as a missing person incident at Nanyuki Police Station. However, following the discovery and retrieval of her body, an inquest was opened.
On November 5, 2019, a Principal Magistrate at the Nanyuki Law Courts ruled that Agnes had been murdered and directed that further investigations be conducted with a view to prosecuting the culpable parties.
Subsequently, detectives from the DCI Homicide Unit took over the case and launched extensive investigations, which involved collaboration with UK authorities through a Mutual Legal Assistance (MLA) framework.
“The UK authorities honoured the MLA request, enabling homicide detectives to travel to the UK on September 14, 2023, July 24, 2024, and July 30, 2024, to pursue critical leads,” DCI added.
Upon completing their investigations, the case file was submitted to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) for review and direction.
Following this evaluation, the ODPP successfully petitioned the Milimani High Court for the issuance of an arrest warrant, which was granted today.
The warrant has been sent to the Interpol United Kingdom through the DCI Headquarters in Nairobi, pending commencement of the extradition process.
“The National Police Service appreciates the invaluable support extended by the UK Government throughout the course of investigations and reaffirms our shared commitment to ensuring justice for Agnes Wanjiru is served,” the DCI reiterated.