Wanjiru niece blasts UK court for moving Purkiss hearing to May 2027

The extradition hearing for Robert James Purkiss was moved from November 2026 to May 2027, extending the timeline of a case that has spanned 14 years. Purkiss, a former British soldier, is accused of murdering Agnes Wanjiru, a 21-year-old Kenyan mother, in 2012. The change in schedule pushes the legal proceedings into the 15th year of the case without a trial.

Wanjiru disappeared in March 2012 after spending an evening at a hotel in Nanyuki, a town roughly 200 kilometers north of Nairobi where British troops were stationed for training. Her body was recovered almost three months later from a septic tank at the same property. Investigators found stab wounds on her chest and abdomen. She left behind a daughter who was five months old at the time of her death.

In 2019, a Kenyan inquest determined that Wanjiru was unlawfully killed by one or two British soldiers. Following that finding, prosecutors presented evidence in September 2025 that they argued justified murder charges. A Kenyan High Court subsequently issued an arrest warrant for a British national. Purkiss was detained in the United Kingdom in November 2025 and has since contested the order to send him to Kenya for trial. He denies the allegation of murder.

The family stated they received news of the postponement via the UK embassy and were not provided with an official explanation. Esther Njoki, Wanjiru's niece, described the delay as completely unacceptable. She noted that the family had already raised funds and arranged travel for the original hearing date, which was scheduled for three weeks from the time of the announcement.

Njoki said the family had endured uncertainty for years but felt their patience was being exploited. She emphasized that Wanjiru deserves justice, her daughter Stacy deserves answers, and the family deserves to be treated with dignity. The relatives are now urging authorities to accelerate the process. A UK court is expected to provide reasons for the postponement next week.

Purkiss, 38, appeared at Westminster Magistrates' Court in February 2026 by video link and was remanded in custody. His lawyers have indicated he intends to fight the extradition. In a previous visit to Kenya, then British Defence Secretary John Healey met with the family and pledged government support. The UK government has maintained its commitment to assisting the family while declining to comment on the specific legal steps currently underway.