Former British Soldier Arrested in UK Over 2012 Kenya Murder Allegation
Arrest and Extradition Proceedings
Robert James Purkiss, a former British soldier, was arrested on November 6 in Tidworth, Wiltshire, by the National Crime Agency's National Extradition Unit. The arrest was made in connection with the alleged murder of Agnes Manjiru in Kenya in 2012, following a warrant issued in September.
Mr. Purkiss, 38, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court on November 10. During the appearance, he stated his intention to contest the extradition to Kenya. He was remanded into custody, with his next court appearance scheduled for November 14. His legal representatives have stated that he "vehemently denies" the murder allegation.
Background of the Case
Agnes Manjiru, 21, was found deceased in a septic tank in Nanyuki, Kenya, in 2012. Her body was discovered three months after she disappeared on March 31, 2012. At the time, Ms. Manjiru had a five-month-old infant. The location of her body was near a British army training camp, approximately 124 miles (200km) north of Nairobi. Reports indicate she had been at a local bar with British soldiers on the night she was killed.
Investigations and Family Advocacy
Ms. Manjiru's family, supported by Kenyan rights groups, has consistently advocated for justice in the case. An inquest into her death was opened in 2018, which concluded in 2019 that she had been unlawfully killed by one or two British soldiers, sustaining stab wounds to her chest and abdomen.
In 2021, a media investigation reported that a British soldier had allegedly confessed to colleagues about killing Ms. Manjiru. This soldier subsequently left the army and reportedly continued residing in the United Kingdom.
Ms. Manjiru's niece, Esther Njoki, met with a UK defence minister recently to press for Mr. Purkiss's extradition. In a statement released through Leigh Day, lawyers representing Ms. Manjiru's family, Ms. Njoki expressed "relief" regarding the arrest, stating it marked "an important step towards finally obtaining justice." Leigh Day partner Tessa Gregory also commented on the significance of the arrest for the family after over a decade of advocacy.
Related Army Review
The British army initiated an internal review in 2024 into the conduct of British soldiers stationed in Kenya, including in the Nanyuki area. This review identified 35 suspected instances of soldiers engaging in sexual exploitation and abuse, including transactional sex, with local women. Nine of these cases occurred after a formal ban on such conduct was implemented in 2022.