Twelve years have passed since 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru was found dead in a hotel septic tank in her Kenyan hometown, Nanyuki and six years since an inquest concluded that she was murdered by one or more British soldiers based in the area.
The investigation into her death has been marked by allegations of a cover-up by the Kenyan Police, and Agnes’s sister Rose Wanjiku and niece Esther Njoki have persistently called on the UK authorities to catalyse progress on the Kenya-led criminal case.
Now, with the new Labour government in power there is renewed hope for justice.
The UK law firm representing Agnes’s family, Leigh Day, are hoping this will be a turning point in her murder case.
In a pre-action letter to the Ministry of Defence, exclusively shared with Sky News, Leigh Day has requested an urgent update on what steps the new Defence Secretary John Healey will take and is already taking to “pursue justice for Agnes and her family”, to ensure “the fullest cooperation with Kenyan detectives” and to commence “an inquiry into the possible cover-up from commanding officers, military police or the MoD”.
The request uses direct quotes from Mr Healey in a Sunday Times print interview from April advocating for justice for Agnes as shadow defence secretary. The interview came only weeks before the Labour party was voted into power in July’s election, and he was sworn in to head up the Ministry of Defence.
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They also asked for him to meet with Agnes’s family and her representatives to “demonstrate his commitment to progressing matters”.
The Ministry of Defence is yet to reply to Leigh Day directly but has shared an exclusive statement responding to the pre-action letter with Sky News.
“The Defence Secretary recognises the tragic circumstances of Ms Wanjiru’s death. Since his recent appointment to the role, he has directed officials to produce options to explore what more could be done by the Department to support the investigation.
“The case remains a live investigation under the jurisdiction of the Kenyan Authorities, and the Defence Serious Crime Provost Marshal recently met with Kenyan counterparts in Nairobi ​while the Defence Serious Crime Command is actively supporting the investigation.
John Healey. Pic: PA
“The secretary of state would be happy to meet with the family in due course.”
We put forward this statement to Carolin Ott, the Leigh Day senior associate solicitor representing Rose Wanjiku.
“Our client welcomes the secretary of state’s indication that he is willing to meet with her family and looks forward to receiving details in respect of a proposed meeting in due course,” Carolin responded.
“Our client hopes that Mr Healey’s appointment will constitute a turning point in what has been a disappointing and extensive period of inaction and failure to take her family’s concerns and suffering seriously.
“The criminal investigation into Ms Wanjiru’s death undertaken by the Kenyan authorities, does not relieve the Ministry of Defence of its own duty to undertake a proper investigation, including to ensure that any potential cover-up is investigated and acts are never repeated.
“Our client calls on Mr Healey to make good on his commitments to expose the grave failings in this case and put his words into actions.”
Meanwhile, back in Kenya Agnes’s family continue their long wait for justice.
“It is very painful that what she went through and even for us as a family trying to seek justice – knocking doors, no one is opening the doors for us. We have been stonewalled for far too long. No one seems to care about us,” her niece Esther tells us via voice note.
“How we feel waiting so long for justice – it is very painful and traumatising and shows us that no government seems to care and justice delayed is justice denied.”