The family of Agnes Wanjiru has expressed frustration after the extradition hearing of the former British soldier, Robert James Purkiss, accused of her murder, was postponed from November 16, 2026, to May 24, 2027.
Agnes, a Kenyan mother who was murdered in 2012, has left her family waiting for answers for 14 years.
Her niece, Esther Njoki, says the latest delay has deepened their frustration, especially because they had already spent time and money preparing to travel to the United Kingdom for the hearing.
Speaking to The Kenya Times in an exclusive interview on Wednesday, October 28, Esther said the family expected the hearing to proceed after the parties had been given a year to prepare.
“We are frustrated because these dates were set by the court last year in November for the parties to be fully prepared, like the whole year,” she said.
“We are not happy because we have waited for 14 years. Now, with the dates being moved, it means that we have to wait for 15 years.”
Esther said the family was particularly concerned that the extradition proceedings had not yet reached the trial stage, raising fears that the wait for justice could stretch even longer.
“And this is an extradition case. The trial has not yet begun. So, it means that the case might take two decades plus for it to be concluded,” she said.
She added that the family continued to bear the pain and uncertainty while Agnes’s daughter, Stacy, was still looking for answers about what happened to her mother.
Family Learnt of Hearing Delay on Agnes Wanjiru Case by Chance
Esther said the family learned of the hearing postponement by chance rather than through official communication.
The family had already made travel arrangements following a fundraising effort to attend the hearing in the UK. The postponement therefore left them uncertain about their plans and the money they had committed to the trip.
“Even how we received the message, I mean, the date being moved is by chance. So, it means that we could have incurred loss because obviously we had already planned the trip and everything,” she said.
According to Esther, the family’s lawyers in the UK contacted the court after learning of the change. They were reportedly told that the hearing had been moved, but the person handling the matter was on leave.
The family was told it would have to wait until the following week to receive an explanation for the postponement.
Esther questioned why the family hadn’t been informed directly and why they had to wait for the official handling the case to return before receiving the reasons for the change.
“For them to postpone or move the date, there must be a reason. But I don’t know why it is hard for them to communicate to the family,” she said.
She stressed that the family did not want to speculate about the circumstances surrounding the decision but wanted clear communication about proceedings affecting them.
“We don’t want to speculate. We don’t want to criticise the court. But they should not mistake our patience,” Esther said.
“We’ve waited for far too long. We’ve been patient enough.”
Family Questions Length of Wait for Justice
The postponement has raised fresh concerns for the family about how long the case could take to conclude.
Esther said the family had endured years of uncertainty and wanted the authorities to consider the impact of further delays on those seeking answers.
She also questioned whether the hearing would proceed as scheduled in May 2027, saying the family did not know what had led to the latest change.
“We don’t know if it is a party that requested more time. We don’t know if it is one party that is not ready to proceed,” she said.
Esther argued that the parties had already had enough time to prepare, while the family had waited 14 years.
“What about us as a family, which has waited for 14 years, surely?” she said.
She added that the family would continue pushing for answers but remained uncertain about what would happen next.
“It’s just the beginning because if this is the extradition that is taking this long, what about the trial?” she said.
Also Read: Hope as British Soldier Linked to Murder of Agnes Wanjiru in Nanyuki is Arrested
Esther Calls for Changes in Kenya’s Justice System
Beyond the latest postponement, Esther said the family wanted Agnes’s case to prompt changes in how authorities handle cases involving victims and their relatives.
She called on the Kenyan government to ensure families receive timely information and that policies protect citizens seeking justice.
“The government of Kenya and the court of Kenya should learn from Agnes case. I’ve been fighting, and I’ve been fighting for a long time. I want Agnes case to bring change,” she said.
Esther said the family struggled to get official updates and often learnt information through the media or other sources.
She also said she had tried reaching out to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) but had not received a response at the time of the interview.
According to Esther, better communication should be among the changes arising from the case, alongside measures to ensure other families do not face similar delays and uncertainty.
“It is high time now the Kenyan government also protects its own citizens by making sure that we are not the ones fighting,” she said.
She added that the family wanted to be involved and kept informed about decisions affecting the case.
“Because we are the victims. The court is not the victim. It is us, the victims, who are still looking for answers,” she said.
Also Read: Ex-British Soldier Accused of Murdering Agnes Wanjiru in Nanyuki Speaks
How Agnes Wanjoru Died
Wanjiru disappeared in March 2012 after spending an evening at a hotel in Nanyuki, about 200km (124 miles) north of Nairobi, where British soldiers were stationed for training.
Her body was found nearly three months later in a septic tank at the hotel. She had suffered stab wounds to her chest and abdomen and left behind a five-month-old daughter.
A Kenyan inquest concluded in 2019 that she had been unlawfully killed by one or two British soldiers.
In September 2025, a Kenyan High Court issued an arrest warrant for a British national after prosecutors presented evidence they said justified bringing murder charges.
Purkiss’ lawyers said he intended to contest extradition to Kenya.
The 38-year-old former soldier appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court via video link in February, where the court further remanded him in custody.
The family has also appealed for financial support to help it travel to the UK for the hearing. Donations can be made through its UK fundraising page at https://gofund.me/693c19169 or through its Kenyan fundraising page at https://www.mchanga.africa/fundraiser/148616.
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