Extradition Hearing for Accused in Agnes Wanjiru Murder Pushed to May 2027

Robert James Purkiss, a former British soldier, will not face an extradition hearing in London until May 2027. The court date has been moved back from next month, a change that has drawn sharp criticism from the family of Agnes Wanjiru, the Kenyan woman he is accused of killing.

Purkiss, 38, was arrested in the United Kingdom in November 2025. He is currently in custody while fighting the legal move to send him to Kenya for a murder trial. He denies the allegation against him. His legal team has stated he intends to contest the extradition. He appeared by video link at Westminster Magistrates' Court in February and was remanded in custody at that time.

The family learned of the postponement through the UK embassy. They said they received no official explanation for the delay. Esther Njoki, Wanjiru's niece, said the relatives had made travel plans and raised funds to attend the hearing scheduled for three weeks from now. The family described the delay as "completely unacceptable" and said authorities failed to keep them informed.

"We have exercised patience and endured uncertainty for years, but our patience is now being taken advantage of," Njoki said. She added that Wanjiru deserves justice and that her daughter Stacy deserves answers. The family said a UK court is expected to provide reasons for the postponement next week.

Wanjiru disappeared in March 2012 after leaving a hotel in Nanyuki, a town about 200 kilometers north of Nairobi. British soldiers were stationed at the hotel for training. Her body was found in a septic tank at the hotel almost three months later. Forensic examinations revealed stab wounds to her chest and abdomen. She left behind a daughter who was five months old at the time.

A Kenyan inquest concluded in 2019 that Wanjiru was unlawfully killed by one or two British soldiers. In September 2025, the Kenyan High Court issued an arrest warrant for a British national. Prosecutors presented evidence they said justified murder charges. John Healey, the then British Defence Secretary, met with the family during a visit to Kenya last year. He pledged government support for their pursuit of justice. The UK government has said it remains committed to helping the family but has declined to comment on the ongoing legal proceedings.