A former British soldier is facing extradition to Kenya in connection with the alleged killing of a 21-year-old woman there in 2012.
The National Crime Agency (NCA) said Robert James Purkiss was arrested in Tidworth, Wiltshire on 6 November and appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
He was arrested by specialist officers from the NCA’s national extradition unit in connection with the killing of Agnes Manjiru after a warrant was issued in September, the Agency added.
Mr Purkiss, 38, told the court he intended to fight extradition and was remanded in custody ahead of his next appearance at the same court on 14 November.
His lawyers told the court that he “absolutely denies” the murder.
Ms Wanjiru’s body was discovered in a septic tank near a hotel in Nanyuki town, about 124 miles (200km) away last year.
His body was found near a British training camp in Britain. On the night he was killed, he was reportedly in a bar with friends where British soldiers were also present.
Ms Wanjiru’s niece, Esther Njoki, met the UK Defense Minister last month to push for Mr Purkiss’ extradition.
In a statement issued by Leigh Day, lawyers acting for Ms Wanjiru’s family, on Friday Ms Njoki said: “My family is very relieved that the case in my aunt’s case has been closed.
“We have been waiting for years for this moment to mark an important step in finally getting justice for our beloved Agnes.”
Leigh Day Partner Tessa Gregory said: “This is a huge moment for our client and her family who have fought for more than a decade to get justice for Agnes.
“We hope that the UK and Kenyan authorities will work together to ensure that the suspect faces trial in Kenya as soon as possible.”
Ms Wanjiru’s family has long accused the British army of covering up her death and the Kenyan authorities of failing to investigate the case in time.
An inquiry into her death was opened in 2018 following pressure from Ms Wanjiru’s family, as well as Kenyan rights groups and feminists.
In 2019, it was concluded that Ms Wanjiru was not unlawfully killed by one or two British soldiers and that she suffered chest and abdominal injuries.
Later in 2021, a Sunday Times investigation reported that a British soldier had confessed to colleagues that he killed Ms Wanjiru. The soldier left the army after the incident and reportedly continues to live in the UK.
In 2024, the Army announced that it was launching an internal review of the conduct of British soldiers in Kenya, including in Nanyuki.
It found 35 suspected cases of soldiers engaged in sexual exploitation and abuse, including transactional sex, nine of which were officially banned by soldiers later in 2022.