Kenyan Inspector General of Police, Hillary Mutyambai has ordered the re-opening of investigation into the 2012 murder of a mother-of-one allegedly by British soldier near a training base.
The body of 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru was found in a septic tank at the Lions Court Hotel in Nanyuki, close to the British Army Training Unit Kenya camp, two months after she disappeared in March 2012.
Following the reopening of the case, Kenya Defence minister confirmed that a UK government delegation is currently in the country holding talks with their Kenyan counterparts and that Kenya will seek the extradition of the British soldier accused of killing the Kenyan woman nine years ago.
The Sunday Times investigative report on the incident exposed that the UK sent six infantry battalions of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment that year for eight-week exercises at the nearby Nanyuki army base.
A Judge at an inquest held in Kenya in 2019 ruled, Ms Wanjiru was ‘murdered by British soldiers’ but no subsequent action was taken by the UK Army or government hence the call now by opposition Labour Party to call on the Government to investigate any possible ‘cover-up’.
At the time an MoD spokesman said ‘No further requests were received from the Kenyan authorities having initially provided information about British personnel Kenyan police special investigation Branch.
It was also reported that British Soldiers who served on the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment including the allege culprit made jokes on social media about the murder on social media. The soldier’s identity is protected, he is known only as Soldier X, although his name is said to be an “open secret” amongst soldiers in the regiment as he was named by four colleagues after Agnes’ death.
A member of the same regiment posted two photos from outside the Lions Court Hotel, where her body was found. The images featured the caption ‘if you know, you know’ with a crying-laughing emoji. The soldier tagged a number of other squaddies to alert them.
Several soldiers, at least one of whom is still with the regiment, responded.
One posted a photo of a ghost emoji, and another chillingly added the words: “Septic tank.”
A third wrote: “Rum gaff” – meaning ‘dodgy place’.
Soldier X posted an emoji of an angel. Other soldiers then responded with crying-laughing emojis, followed by a cartoon of a baby crying at a funeral from TV show Family Guy.
When asked about the conversation on Facebook, Soldier X declined to comment.
The naked body of Ms Wanjiru – believed to be a sex worker was found at the hotel nearly a decade ago by a maintenance worker after a foul smell.
Her family has been pushing for answers and claims British and Kenyan authorities have staged a cover-up to maintain diplomatic relations.
An MoD spokesman said the Defence Secretary is impatient with the pace of this and has directed full cooperation. ‘He is working with the Military and Kenyan Police to ensure their investigation is not impeded.’