UK Defence Secretary Meets Agnes Wanjiru’s Niece in London, Pledges Continued Support for Justice in 2012 Murder Case
London, October 15, 2025 – In a poignant encounter that underscores the enduring quest for accountability, UK Defence Secretary John Healey met with Esther Njoki, the niece of slain Kenyan woman Agnes Wanjiru, in London on Tuesday. The discussion highlighted the UK's unwavering commitment to aiding Kenya's investigation into Wanjiru's brutal 2012 murder, a case that has strained relations between Nairobi and London for over a decade while leaving a family shattered by grief and unresolved pain.
The meeting comes six months after Healey's historic April visit to Kenya, where he became the first British government minister to sit down with Wanjiru's relatives. During that trip, the UK formally handed over key case files to Kenya's Director of Public Prosecutions, marking a pivotal step forward. Just last month, the DPP greenlit charges against a former British soldier implicated in the killing, a development that has injected fresh hope into what has long been a saga of bureaucratic hurdles and diplomatic foot-dragging.
Agnes Wanjiru, a 21-year-old Kenyan national, was found dead in a septic tank at a Nanyuki hotel near the British Army Training Unit Kenya base in 2012. Witness testimonies and internal British Army documents have long pointed to the involvement of the ex-soldier, who was stationed in the area at the time. Her death, described by family members as a horrific act of violence, ignited widespread outrage in Kenya, where it symbolized broader concerns over accountability for crimes allegedly committed by foreign military personnel on Kenyan soil. For years, Wanjiru's loved ones campaigned relentlessly, facing a wall of silence from authorities on both sides of the Atlantic, compounded by the emotional weight of lost time and unhealed wounds.
Esther Njoki, who has emerged as the family's steadfast voice and an advocate for survivors of gender-based violence, traveled to London for the private session at Healey's office. Speaking after the meeting, Njoki laid bare the profound toll of the past 13 years. The loss of her aunt was not merely a personal tragedy, she explained, but a cascade of secondary agonies: endless inquiries met with evasion, shattered dreams for closure, and a lingering trauma that ripples through generations. The recent charging decision, she noted, feels like a crack in the armor of injustice, yet it falls short of true resolution. Njoki pressed Healey directly on the need for swift extradition of the accused to Kenya, insisting on a trial in the country where the crime occurred to ensure transparency and deter future impunity.
Healey, visibly moved by Njoki's resolve, praised her as an extraordinary figure in the family's fight. He reflected on the milestones achieved since their Kenyan meeting, including the file transfer and prosecutorial nod to charges. The UK, he affirmed, stands ready to bolster Kenya's efforts every step of the way, from evidentiary support to logistical aid in pursuing extradition. This collaboration, he emphasized, aims not just to deliver legal outcomes but to restore a measure of peace to a family that has endured far too much. The British High Commission in Nairobi echoed this sentiment in a follow-up release, outlining plans for sustained partnership with Kenyan officials to drive the case toward a fair conclusion.
The encounter arrives amid heightened scrutiny of UK military engagements abroad, particularly in former colonial outposts like Kenya, where the BATUK program has trained thousands of troops since its inception. Critics have long argued that such facilities risk fostering an environment of unaccountability, with Wanjiru's case serving as a stark emblem. Yet, these latest developments signal a thaw in bilateral frictions, potentially paving the way for stronger trust between the two nations. For Njoki and her relatives, however, optimism is tempered by caution; extradition remains the critical next hurdle, and any further delays could reignite public fury.
As the investigation presses on, this London dialogue serves as both a tribute to Wanjiru's memory and a reminder of the human stakes in international justice. With charges now formalized, the path to a courtroom reckoning grows clearer, but only time will reveal if promises translate into lasting accountability. For now, the family's vigil continues, buoyed by allies across borders who refuse to let Agnes Wanjiru fade into forgotten history.