Written By Were Kelly
A breakthrough has been achieved in a cold case that has haunted Kenya for over a decade, with a British national now under arrest in the United Kingdom for the 2012 murder of 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru. The arrest, confirmed by the Kenyan Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on November 8, 2025, marks a pivotal moment in the long-delayed pursuit of justice for the victim and her family.
The suspect, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, was apprehended by British authorities and is currently remanded in police custody. He is scheduled to appear before a London court on November 14 for a bail hearing related to the extradition request filed by the Kenyan DPP.
A subsequent case management session is set for December 9, 2025, outlining the next legal steps in the process to bring him to trial in Kenya. This development is the culmination of a recent and coordinated international effort, coming just six weeks after the DPP initiated formal extradition proceedings.
The path to this arrest began on September 16, 2025, when the DPP successfully secured an arrest warrant from a court in Nairobi. By October 9, all necessary documentation for the extradition had been formally transmitted from the DPP to the Office of the Attorney General and onward to the UK authorities, setting the stage for the suspect’s detention. The DPP’s office described this as the result of an “extensive and coordinated effort between Kenyan and British authorities.”
Agnes Wanjiru’s case had sparked national outrage and remained a symbol of impunity. The young mother, who worked as a freelance hairdresser, was last seen alive on March 31, 2012, at the Lions Court Lodge in Nanyuki. Her disappearance ended in tragedy nearly two months later when her body was discovered on June 5, 2012, in a septic tank located on the premises of the same lodge. For thirteen years, her family and advocates have campaigned tirelessly for answers and accountability.
In its official statement, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions reiterated its “unwavering commitment to pursuing justice for Agnes Wanjiru and her family, in collaboration with international partners, to ensure that those responsible are held fully accountable.” The forthcoming extradition proceedings in London will be closely watched, as they represent the critical next phase in a case that tests the resolve of international judicial cooperation and the long-awaited prospect of justice for a crime that has simmered unresolved for over a decade.
