Family of agnes Wanjiru welcomes arrest of British soldier 12 years after her murder
By Wanjira Wachira, November 8, 2025Justice can finally be felt in the family of Agnes Wanjiru after 12 years of waiting. This comes as a result of the arrest of the prime suspect in her murder yesterday.
Agnes Wanjiru was killed in March 2012, and her body was later found in a septic tank of a hotel in the central garrison town of Nanyuki, nearly three months after she had allegedly spent an evening partying with British soldiers.
According to an official statement from the National Crime Agency (NCA), Robert James Purkiss, 38, was apprehended by specialist officers from the agency’s National Extradition Unit in Tidworth, Wiltshire, on November 6.
Family spokesperson Esther Njoki says the family has waited forever for such a day. She says that though the process has taken years, justice can finally be expected.
“If we can change the culture of the army, we can protect future generations of women and girls,” she insists. “We can’t bring Agnes back, but we can protect other women.”
Esther also added that Robert has been claiming it was sex gone wrong, but even if that were true, he had no right to kill Agnes.
“Today, we are grateful for this milestone. I was only 8 when Agnes was murdered, and I am now 21. I stepped in at the age of 17, and it hasn’t been easy,” Esther said, the family spokesperson.
Rose Wanyua, sister to the late Agnes, said she never saw justice coming their way, but this day is a dream come true.
“These are the days I prayed and cried to God for. At some point, I wanted to give up and leave it to God. Today has proven that patience and persistence pay,” she said. “We are calling for a speedy extradition process.”
“The dead can’t cry out for justice. It is the duty of the living to do so for them.” – Lois McMaster Bujold