Kenyan court orders arrest of UK national accused of 2012 murder

A Kenyan high court has ordered the arrest of a British national on charges of murdering a local woman near a British army training ground in central Kenya 13 years ago, court officials said Tuesday.

The body of 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru was found in a septic tank in April 2012 in Nanyuki, north of Mt. Kenya, weeks after witnesses said she was seen leaving a bar with British soldiers.

The court in Nairobi on Monday ordered the arrest of the suspect, who is in Britain, but said that the suspect’s name could not be published, without giving a reason for those rare instructions. The names of murder suspects normally can be published in Kenya.

Prosecutors said in a statement that an extradition request would now be launched.

The ruling brought renewed attention to the case, and Wanjiru’s family said on Tuesday said they have waited “too long” for justice but hope that it will now arrive.

“While this is progress, it is not justice yet,” family spokesperson Esther Muchiri said.