The Kenyan woman’s family says the postponement of Robert James Purkiss’s extradition hearing until May 2027 risks pushing their wait for justice into a 15th year.

The family of Agnes Wanjiru has condemned a months-long delay in extradition proceedings against former British soldier Robert James Purkiss, who is accused of murdering the 21-year-old Kenyan mother in 2012.

Extradition hearing postponed to May 2027

Purkiss’s extradition hearing had been expected to take place in the coming weeks but has now been postponed until May 2027.

Wanjiru’s family said they learned about the delay through the British High Commission after making arrangements to attend the proceedings in the United Kingdom. They are demanding an explanation for the postponement.

Purkiss was arrested in the U.K. in November 2025 following an extradition request from Kenya. He denies killing Wanjiru and is contesting his extradition. No court has found him guilty of her murder.

What happened to Agnes Wanjiru

Wanjiru disappeared in March 2012 after spending an evening at the Lions Court Hotel in Nanyuki, where British soldiers were staying while training in Kenya.

Her body was discovered about two months later in a septic tank at the hotel. A Kenyan inquest later concluded that she had been unlawfully killed by one or more British soldiers.

Kenyan authorities subsequently issued an arrest warrant for Purkiss and sought his extradition from the U.K. to face trial.

Family calls for accountability

The case has become a long-running source of tension over accountability for alleged crimes involving British military personnel stationed in Kenya.

Wanjiru left behind a five-month-old daughter. Her family says the latest postponement prolongs a wait for justice that has already lasted more than 14 years. They have called on Kenyan and British authorities to ensure the case moves forward without further unnecessary delays.