Defence Cabinet Secretary, Eugene Wamalwa, has revealed that the United Kingdom Government has agreed on a joint corporation that will see soldiers behind Agnes Wanjiru's murder extradited to Kenya to face murder charges.
While appearing before the National Assembly Defence Committee on Tuesday, November, 17, CS Wamalwa revealed that he had received a letter from his UK counterpart to confirm their commitment to finding justice for 21-year-old Kenyan.
The statements by the two Ministers come days after officials from the British Military including Minister for the Armed Forces, James Heappey, travelled to Kenya to assure the government of UK's commitment to the investigation of Agnes Wanjiru's murder. This was after a public uproar was experienced both in Kenya and the UK.
“My counterpart in the UK did make a statement on behalf of the UK that they will cooperate and he has committed we are going to form joint investigations to ensure justice is served.”
“He has written to me indicating on what they are doing to ensure a joint visit is processed to face justice,” Wamalwa stated.
Additionally, Members of Parliament demanded that both governments should ensure that senior military officials at the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) are brought to book for what they alleged was a coverup for the murder.
“Our greatest worry is a cover-up and continued attempt by commanders to whisk away culprit who should face justice. The issue of Agnes as a whole appears unique. I think what we shouldn't do is to try to weigh the advantages of relationships vis-a-vis the lives of the people,” Saku MP Rasso Dido expressed.
While speaking in Nanyuki on November 3, during his visit to Kenya, the UK minister for the Armed forces insisted that their government was not protecting the suspects, hinting that they were ready to bring the cases to Kenya.
"We want that(Agnes Wanjiru's murder) to be investigated and brought to courts here in Kenya as quickly as possible and other allegations that are brought to light will be dealt with such urgency on our part," Heappey assured.
Despite assurances of cooperation from the British government, the legislators led by the Defence committee chairman and Yatta MP, Charles Kilonzo, reiterated that they would ensure that senior British Army officials who failed to take action against the suspects are also brought to book.
“We will be pursuing any other officer who did not play his or her role. Obviously where people did not play their role there was outside influence,” Kilonzo stated.
In response to the legislators' stance on revoking the military cooperation agreement between the two countries, Wamalwa pleaded with the MP's to reconsider their hard stance and allow both governments to sign an extension agreement that will see British soldiers continue with the operations in Nanyuki.
