Britain’s Defence Secretary, John Healey, met with the family of Agnes Wanjiru on Monday in Kenya, marking the first time a British government official has sat down with relatives of the 21-year-old Kenyan woman whose 2012 death remains unresolved.
Wanjiru was last seen with British soldiers at a hotel in Nanyuki—a town where the UK maintains a permanent army base—before her body was found dumped in a septic tank. The case sent shockwaves through Kenya and has long been a source of tension between the two nations.
Speaking after the meeting, Healey said it was “deeply humbling” and reaffirmed the UK government’s commitment to supporting the ongoing investigation.
“Our government will continue to do everything we can to help the family secure the justice they deserve,” he stated, adding that he would stress the importance of progress during his meeting with Kenyan President William Ruto later in the day.
Despite years of calls for action, the case has seen little progress. A 2019 Kenyan investigation has yet to yield results, and public hearings scheduled for 2024 have been postponed.
Wanjiru’s family, including her elder sister Rose Wanyua, welcomed the meeting but expressed frustration over years of delays and “empty promises.”
“We’ve waited for too many years,” the family said in a statement. “It’s time to bring closure to this matter and ensure what happened to Agnes never happens again.”
The case gained renewed attention in 2021 when The Sunday Times reported that a British soldier confessed to killing Wanjiru and even showed her body to fellow troops. The report alleged the incident was reported to senior officers but was not pursued further.
The British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK), located in Nanyuki, plays a major economic role in the region but has also drawn criticism for its lack of accountability.
Now, with the Labour Party in power, there is growing pressure for a transparent inquiry. Healey, who previously accused the former government of inaction, now faces the challenge of turning political promises into real progress for Wanjiru’s grieving family
