Family of woman allegedly killed by British soldier hope for justice

The family of a 21-year-old woman from Majengo estate in Nanyuki allegedly murdered by a British soldier in 2012 is optimistic they will get justice.

Rose Wanyua Wanjiku, an elder sister to the late Agnes Wanjiru, yesterday narrated to the Star how she got home to find her sister was missing.

She later learnt her sister had joined a group of friends, leaving her five-month-old baby.

“When I asked about the toddler, I was told she was not around and upon checking on the bed, she was not there. The following day, while coming from church, I received a phone call and the caller said that they had not seen Shiru," she said.

"The caller, who identified herself as Sussie, told me that Shiru had left the baby at their place,” Wanjiku said.

She added that, from then on, they did not see their sister again and started searching for her in vain.

Wanjiku said that she raised her sister since she was a young girl.

She said the family has never received any communication from the Kenyan and British government, adding that she is not even aware of the fate of a case that was ongoing at a Nanyuki court over the murder.

“We are only optimistic that justice will prevail, and even if it happens, no one can pay for the life lost. But again, we thank God that there is some light,” she said.

 John Muchiri Kamunge, an uncle to the deceased, said Wanjiru was left by her mother while aged nine years and he was taking care of her until her demise.

“The grandmother died while Wanjiru was set to join in Class Three. She studied until Form Three when she got pregnant and gave birth. We were left with the responsibility of bringing up the toddler,” Kamunge said.

Kamunge further said that they have never received any communication from the government, adding that they were peasants relying on meagre resources. 

Yesterday, a United Kingdom newspaper published a story of former British Army Training Unit in Kenya (Batuk) soldiers detailing the occurrences of the fateful night.

It revealed that the identity of the British soldier who allegedly stabbed a Kenyan mother to death, before dumping her body in a hotel septic tank after a night of partying, is widely known in the army.

The naked body of Agnes Wanjiru, 21, was found at the Lions Court Inn Hotel in Nanyuki, nearly a decade ago, by a maintenance worker who noticed a foul smell.

The sex worker's family has since been pushing for answers.

The family claimed that British and Kenyan authorities have staged a cover-up to maintain diplomatic relations.

But following an investigation by The Sunday Times, soldiers who took part in the drunken night of group sex with local prostitutes, said they were shown Agnes's body that evening by her alleged killer, named by the paper as Soldier X.

Another soldier from the Duke of Lancaster regiment, identified as Soldier Y, said: "He took me to the tank and lifted it up, and I looked in and I just remember seeing her in there. My heart sank. My mind just went blank. The only thing I could say to him was: 'I'll never forgive you for this.'"

The recent allegations have prompted a new murder probe by the British Royal Military Police, while a Labour MP has called on the government to investigate any possible cover-up. 

A defence source added: "The Defence Secretary has been impatient with the pace of this [alleged murder case], and has directed full cooperation. He has worked with the military police and Kenyans to ensure their investigation is not impeded." 

The British High Commission in Kenya also issued a statement over the same.

“I share the outrage and concern about the tragic death of Agnes Wanjiru in 2012," the British High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriot said in a statement.

"I can assure Kenyans that the UK is fully cooperating with the investigation and will help in any way we can.” 

The stated further said that the UK’s Special Investigation Branch conducted initial inquiries in 2012 and even provided information to the Kenya Police and British personnel but "[n]o further requests were received..."

The statement reiterated that the "conduct of the UK military" in Nanyuki was "incredibly important" to the British government, and that there were issues that needed to be addressed. 

“Senior military visitors from the UK come to Kenya regularly - including in the coming weeks - and will be discussing Ms Wanjiru’s murder and UK support to the Kenyan investigation.”

Batuk commander Colonel Duncan Mann also said that the alleged murder of Agnes Wanjiru is a tragedy that should not be tolerated.

He added that Batuk is committed to upholding the highest standards of discipline and lawful and respect for others, adding that it did not tolerate or condone the behaviour that has been alleged.