Fri Nov 07 19:33:12 UTC 2025: NEWS ARTICLE:

Ex-British Soldier Arrested, Faces Extradition Over 2012 Kenya Murder

London, UK – A former British soldier, Robert James Purkiss, 38, has been arrested and appeared in a London court following an extradition request from Kenya in connection with the 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru. Wanjiru, a 21-year-old woman, was found dead in a septic tank at the Lion’s Court Hotel in Nanyuki, Kenya, near a British army training camp. She was last seen with British soldiers.

The UK’s National Crime Agency (NCA) confirmed the arrest, stating that Purkiss was apprehended by specialist officers on Thursday. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on Friday where extradition proceedings began. He was remanded into custody until his next hearing on November 14th.

A Kenyan inquest in 2019 concluded that Wanjiru was murdered by British soldiers. The inquest revealed that she had been beaten and stabbed, and was likely alive when thrown into the septic tank. The delay in bringing anyone to justice has caused outrage in Kenya.

Purkiss “vehemently denies” the murder according to his lawyer, David Josse, who also stated that his client is receiving funding from the UK’s Ministry of Defence for his defense. Purkiss told the court he did not consent to extradition.

The case has strained relations between the UK and Kenya. The Labour government has pledged to support the Kenyan investigation. The British Army Training Unit in Kenya, while an economic benefit to Nanyuki, has faced scrutiny over allegations of misconduct by its soldiers.

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