A Kenyan High Court has issued an arrest warrant for a British national suspected of murdering a 21-year-old woman more than a decade ago.
Agnes Wanjiru was killed in March 2012, and her body was later found in a septic tank of a hotel in the central garrison town of Nanyuki nearly three months after she had allegedly spent an evening partying with British soldiers.
Justice Alexander Muteti stated that prosecutors had provided sufficient evidence to request that the suspect appear before a Kenyan court for trial.
The lawyer representing Ms. Wanjiru's family, Kamau Mbiu, told the BBC that the ruling paved the way for proceedings to start for the suspect's extradition from the UK.
We welcome it, but we urge greater transparency, as this remains a matter of public interest, Mr. Mbiu said.
The judge directed that the identities of the accused and witnesses not be published to protect the integrity of the trial.
A UK government spokesperson expressed condolences to Wanjiru's family, stating, Our thoughts remain with the family of Agnes Wanjiru and we remain absolutely committed to helping them secure justice. They added that no further comments would be provided due to ongoing legal proceedings.
The UK's Ministry of Defence has previously stated it is cooperating with the Kenyan investigation, which has caused public outrage in the East African nation.
The family of Ms. Wanjiru, who left behind a young daughter, have long been fighting for justice. They live in Nanyuki, close to the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk), some 200km north of Nairobi.
Ms. Wanjiru's niece, Esther Njoki, described the warrant as a bitter-sweet moment, acknowledging that the extradition process could be lengthy.
The prosecution informed the court that witnesses currently based in the UK would be prepared to testify, ensuring the trial could proceed effectively.
Legal representative Tessa Gregory urged the British Government to expedite the extradition process, allowing the accused to face trial in Kenya as soon as possible.
