Latest news with #AgnesWanjiru
Times
22-06-2025
- Times
A long road to finding the truth on Agnes Wanjiru
It is four years since our reporter David Collins first revealed the possible involvement of British servicemen in the death of a young mother in Kenya. This weekend he reports that detectives in Nairobi have recommended one charge of murder against a British soldier after more than 20 others came forward to give evidence. Agnes Wanjiru, a hairdresser, was last seen going to a bedroom with a British soldier at the Lions Court Inn Hotel in Nanyuki, a dustbowl town three hours north of Nairobi. Her body was found in June 2012. She had been stabbed in the chest and then stuffed into a septic tank, possibly still alive. Comrades of the suspected killer said that army officers and military police failed to act on claims that a murder had taken place during a drinking binge at the hotel. In 2019 a Kenyan judge ruled that on the balance of probabilities a British soldier was responsible for Wanjiru's death. • Agnes Wanjiru killing: soldier may be extradited as 20 troops come forward Two years later we published our first investigation into the events of March 31, 2012. Our reporting prompted an individual we have called Soldier Y to make a witness statement to military police in which he identified a former colleague, Soldier X, who he says showed him Wanjiru's body on the night of the murder. This reignited the inquiry and, although the wheels of justice have ground slowly for Wanjiru's family, Britain's defence secretary, John Healey, has commendably vowed to help resolve the case. The Kenyan director of public prosecutions is reviewing the case file to decide on a murder charge. Prosecutors would then have to apply for the suspect, who is living in Britain, to be extradited for trial. If they do, the UK should surrender him without hesitation. It is a tribute to the power of investigative journalism that the horrific story, for so long shrouded in uncertainty and cover-up, is approaching this moment of clarity. If the Kenyan authorities ask for him, the army and the Ministry of Defence should hand over their man.
Russia Today
12-06-2025
- Russia Today
British soldier arrested on rape charge in African state
A British soldier has been accused of raping a woman in Kenya and has been returned to the UK amid an investigation, the BBC reported on Monday. The case adds to longstanding controversy over the conduct of British troops stationed in the East African nation. According to the news agency, the alleged incident happened last month after a group of soldiers visited a bar in Nanyuki, a town located near the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), about 200km (125 miles) north of the capital, Nairobi. The suspect was reportedly arrested and interrogated by the UK military. The UK Ministry of Defense confirmed on Sunday that a 'service person' had been arrested in Kenya, adding that it would not comment further because 'the matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Defense Serious Crime Command.' 'Unacceptable and criminal behavior has absolutely no place in our Armed Forces and any reporting of a serious crime by serving personnel is investigated independently from their chain of command,' the ministry said in a statement cited by the BBC. Allegations of crimes committed by British troops in Kenya, including rape, murder, and environmental pollution, date back decades. However, widespread public outrage was sparked following the 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru, a 21-year-old woman who had been missing for several weeks after reportedly spending a night partying with British soldiers. Her mutilated body was found in a hotel septic tank near the BATUK permanent garrison. A British soldier reportedly confessed to the murder in 2021, but no charges have been brought forward by prosecutors. The BATUK has asked that the Kenyan High Court dismiss the lawsuit filed by Wanjiru's family, arguing that the tribunal lacks jurisdiction over any case involving a UK Army unit in the country. In April, UK Defense Secretary John Healey visited Nairobi and pledged 'full support to the Kenyan investigatory authorities' after the African country's investigators announced that they had concluded a probe into Wanjiru's death. Last June, CNN reported that British Army soldiers left behind dozens of children fathered through the alleged sexual abuse of Kenyan women. The outlet claimed that mixed-race children continue to be born in remote villages across central Kenya, where the BATUK is based, as the result of rapes committed by the troops.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
UK soldier accused of raping British woman in Kenya
A UK soldier accused of raping a woman near a controversial British army base in Kenya allegedly attacked a British national, not a Kenyan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed. In a statement the military said the man had been arrested and sent back to the UK following the alleged incident last month near the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (Batuk). The allegation is being investigated by the UK military, which has jurisdiction over the matter, and does not involve Kenyan police. The alleged rape is the latest allegation of misconduct made against British soldiers at Batuk, which is near the town of Nanyuki around 200km (125 miles) north of Kenya's capital, Nairobi. A MoD spokesperson said: "We can confirm the arrest of a British service person in Kenya in relation to a report of a sexual offence. The service person has been repatriated to the UK and the victim is a British adult, not a Kenyan. "The matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the UK Defence Serious Crime Command, in accordance with the Defence Co-operation Agreement between the UK and Kenya and we will not comment further." A UK soldier has previously been accused of murdering a local woman, Agnes Wanjiru, whose body was found dumped in a septic tank in 2012. The UK has said it is co-operating with a Kenyan investigation into her death. The Batuk base was established in 1964 shortly after the East African nation gained independence from the UK. The UK military has an agreement with Kenya under which it can deploy up to six army battalions a year for periods of training at the site. But the British army has faced a string of allegations about the conduct of some UK personnel at the camp. A public inquiry set up by Kenyan MPs last year heard details of alleged mistreatment of local people by British soldiers. The allegations included a reported hit-and-run incident, as well as claims that some British soldiers had got local women pregnant before abandoning them and their children when they returned to the UK. Agnes Wanjiru murder: Kenya family's anger over UK army 'cover-up' Kenya hears 'heartbreaking' claims against UK soldiers Kenyans sue the British army over fire at wildlife sanctuary Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Yahoo
UK soldier accused of raping British woman in Kenya
A UK soldier accused of raping a woman near a controversial British army base in Kenya allegedly attacked a British national, not a Kenyan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed. In a statement the military said the man had been arrested and sent back to the UK following the alleged incident last month near the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (Batuk). The allegation is being investigated by the UK military, which has jurisdiction over the matter, and does not involve Kenyan police. The alleged rape is the latest allegation of misconduct made against British soldiers at Batuk, which is near the town of Nanyuki around 200km (125 miles) north of Kenya's capital, Nairobi. A MoD spokesperson said: "We can confirm the arrest of a British service person in Kenya in relation to a report of a sexual offence. The service person has been repatriated to the UK and the victim is a British adult, not a Kenyan. "The matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the UK Defence Serious Crime Command, in accordance with the Defence Co-operation Agreement between the UK and Kenya and we will not comment further." A UK soldier has previously been accused of murdering a local woman, Agnes Wanjiru, whose body was found dumped in a septic tank in 2012. The UK has said it is co-operating with a Kenyan investigation into her death. The Batuk base was established in 1964 shortly after the East African nation gained independence from the UK. The UK military has an agreement with Kenya under which it can deploy up to six army battalions a year for periods of training at the site. But the British army has faced a string of allegations about the conduct of some UK personnel at the camp. A public inquiry set up by Kenyan MPs last year heard details of alleged mistreatment of local people by British soldiers. The allegations included a reported hit-and-run incident, as well as claims that some British soldiers had got local women pregnant before abandoning them and their children when they returned to the UK. Agnes Wanjiru murder: Kenya family's anger over UK army 'cover-up' Kenya hears 'heartbreaking' claims against UK soldiers Kenyans sue the British army over fire at wildlife sanctuary Go to for more news from the African continent. Follow us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica Focus on Africa This Is Africa
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
UK soldier in Kenya accused of raping British woman
A UK soldier accused of raping a woman near a controversial British army base in Kenya allegedly attacked a British national, not a Kenyan, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has a statement the military said the man had been arrested and sent back to the UK following the alleged incident last month near the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (Batuk).The allegation is being investigated by the UK military, which has jurisdiction over the matter, and does not involve Kenyan alleged rape is the latest allegation of misconduct made against British soldiers at Batuk, which is near the town of Nanyuki around 200km (125 miles) north of Kenya's capital, Nairobi. A MoD spokesperson said: "We can confirm the arrest of a British service person in Kenya in relation to a report of a sexual offence. The service person has been repatriated to the UK and the victim is a British adult, not a Kenyan."The matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the UK Defence Serious Crime Command, in accordance with the Defence Co-operation Agreement between the UK and Kenya and we will not comment further."A UK soldier has previously been accused of murdering a local woman, Agnes Wanjiru, whose body was found dumped in a septic tank in UK has said it is co-operating with a Kenyan investigation into her Batuk base was established in 1964 shortly after the East African nation gained independence from the UK military has an agreement with Kenya under which it can deploy up to six army battalions a year for periods of training at the the British army has faced a string of allegations about the conduct of some UK personnel at the camp.A public inquiry set up by Kenyan MPs last year heard details of alleged mistreatment of local people by British allegations included a reported hit-and-run incident, as well as claims that some British soldiers had got local women pregnant before abandoning them and their children when they returned to the UK. You may also be interested in: Agnes Wanjiru murder: Kenya family's anger over UK army 'cover-up'Kenya hears 'heartbreaking' claims against UK soldiersKenyans sue the British army over fire at wildlife sanctuary Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
