United Kingdom Minister for the Armed Forces James Heappey is in the country to meet with the family of slain mother, Agnes Wanjiru in Nanyuki.
Sources told Kenyans.co.ke that Heappey, who is also the Member of Parliament for Wells, will offer his condolences to the family and friends of Wanjiru as investigations into the matter continue.
The UK’s Minister for the Armed Forces will also meet representatives of the community in Nanyuki as part of his visit to the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK).
Nanyuki residents are expected to share with the Minister their concerns and perspectives on the stay of British soldiers in Kenya and the conflicts that have arisen since the establishment of BATUK.
Kenyans.co.ke also learnt that the British Minister will reassure Nanyuki residents of the UK’s full support of the Kenyan Police investigation into the Wanjiru case.
Those invited to the meeting include local business people, a representative of local sex workers, local NGOs, county and national government delegates.
Following revelations of the murder of Wanjiru, there was an uproar on social media with both Kenyans and Britons demanding the arrest and the prosecution of the soldier allegedly involved.
UK Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley Jess Philips started a crowdfunding page to raise money in support of Wanjiru's family.
The British lawmaker urged her followers and supporters in the UK to raise funds to assist the family, particularly Wanjiru's daughter, Stacy.
"Her name was Agnes Wanjiru let's make it so her daughter Stacy has a better chance than she did. Let's show her that here in the UK we can see her. Stacy is now almost ten years old and being raised by her aunt in difficult conditions, with little resources and limited support," she stated.
She noted that the funds would go towards Stacy's education and ease the family's economic woes. Hours after starting the crowdfund page, more than 300 people have contributed over Ksh1.09 million with well-wishers donating from Ksh1,000 and above.
The UK government affirmed that it was restricted by law to open parallel investigations into the matter. The UK Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace, however, reiterated that the Royal Military Police constantly communicated with their Kenyan counterparts about the murder probe.
