A British soldier accused of killing a Kenyan woman, Agnes Wanjiru, in 2012, has been formally charged with murder, with a Kenyan court now issuing an arrest warrant against him. The 38-year-old man, identified only as Robert, is originally from Greater Manchester and is believed to still be in the United Kingdom.
Robert was stationed at the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) in Nanyuki when Wanjiru’s body was discovered in a septic tank in April 2012. The 21-year-old mother had last been seen leaving a bar with a British soldier before her death. An autopsy revealed multiple stab wounds, pointing to a violent killing.
Investigations stalled for years, but in 2019 Kenyan authorities concluded Wanjiru had been murdered by one or more soldiers. In 2021, another serviceman from the Duke of Lancaster’s regiment claimed the suspect had confessed and shown him where the body was dumped. Despite mounting evidence, no arrests were made at the time.
Robert, who joined the British Army in 2006 and served as a medic for a decade, undertook missions in Afghanistan before being posted to Kenya. Since leaving the army, he has worked as a computer support technician near Salisbury, and is a father of two.
Kenya’s High Court Judge Alexander Muteti issued the arrest warrant on Tuesday after the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) confirmed that the suspect had been charged but failed to appear in court. Prosecutors have now initiated extradition proceedings, with hopes the UK government will cooperate.
Earlier this year, UK Defence Secretary John Healey assured Wanjiru’s family that justice would be pursued. If extradited, Robert would be the first British serviceman sent abroad to stand trial for the murder of a civilian. The case will be mentioned again on October 21, 2025.
