The UK Defence Secretary, MP, today met family members of
the late Agnes Wanjiru, who was killed in Nanyuki, Kenya in 2012
to express his condolences. Fulfilling the commitment he made
soon after entering office.
This is the first time a UK Government Minister has met with
Agnes Wanjiru's family.
Defence Secretary, MP, said:
It was deeply humbling to meet the family of Agnes Wanjiru today.
In the 13 years since her death, they have shown such strength in
their long fight for justice. I reiterated my determination to
see a resolution to the still unresolved case.
We will continue to offer our full support to the Kenyan
investigatory authorities, which has included visits by Kenyan
investigators to the UK to interview witnesses and of the Provost
Marshal (Serious Crime) to Kenya. In my meeting with President
Ruto later today, I will emphasise the need to accelerate
progress in this case. Our Government will continue to do
everything we can to help the family secure the justice they
deserve.
The family of Agnes Wanjiru also made a statement after
the meeting with the Defence Secretary. They said:
The death of our beloved Agnes has had a profound and devastating
impact on our family. It was not only the shock of losing Agnes
at such a young age, but also the horrific circumstances in which
her body was found and all the trauma and struggle our family has
been put through in trying to seek justice and accountability for
her death that has taken a very heavy toll on all of us.
It is now more than 13 years since Agnes was killed and almost 6
years since a Kenyan inquest found that she had been murdered by
British soldiers, yet so little progress appears to have been
made since then.
We are grateful to the Secretary of State for Defence agreeing to
meet with us, but we have waited for too many years and been
offered too many empty promises. We hope that our meeting with
the Secretary of State marks the beginning of the UK government
and Ministry of Defence taking decision action to ensure that
what happened to Agnes is properly investigated in Kenya and in
the UK and to make sure that what happened to Agnes never happens
again. We expect the UK and Kenyan governments to act and bring
closure to this matter.
