IG Mutyambai orders reopening of Agnes Wanjiru’s murder case
Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai has ordered the reopening of Agnes Wanjiru’s murder case by a British soldier in Nanyuki in 2012.
During his weekly Twitter engagement with Kenyans, Mutyambai directed the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to reopen the case and compile all evidence and witness accounts to facilitate the conclusion of the case in a court of law.
At the same time urged the UK government to cooperate with the local investigating teams to ensure justice is finally served to the family of the deceased.
“I have directed the DCI to re-open the case and compile all the available evidence and witness accounts and ensure the case is concluded before a court of law. I am also urging the UK government to collaborate with us to conclude the case and administer justice,” he tweeted.
This comes after the UK accused Kenyan police of sluggish investigations into the murder of Agnes Wanjiru in Laikipia in 2012.
UK Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace said the Kenyan police only made a formal request for DNA samples this week, ten years since Wanjiru was killed.
“DNA had been formally requested in relation to the Wanjiru case by the Kenyans only last week, which of course we are responding to. We had never received the request,” Wallace said.
Wallace said the UK had not launched a parallel investigation since the incident happened in Kenya.
He said the Kenyan Police retain their jurisdiction and primary of the investigation as stipulated in the Armed Forces Act 2006.
Wallace, however, insisted that British authorities would assist in the investigations if asked to.
In a press statement, UK’s Ministry of Defence said that, while they fully support the investigations, they are unable to conduct parallel investigations while the Kenyan probe is ongoing.
“The Royal Military Police are in daily contact with Kenyan authorities and are assisting with lines of inquiry within the UK,” the Ministry tweeted.
Over the weekend, details emerged that a British soldier linked to the 21-year-old woman’s killing and his colleagues laughed about the incident on Facebook.
The Sunday Times reported that a member of the same regiment posted two photos from outside the hotel, where Wanjiru’s body was found.
The UK government through the High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriott has already assured of its commitment to work with the local authorities to establish the facts surrounding the killing of the 21-year-old mother of one.
