Agnes Wanjiru Murder: MPs Threaten to Reject Kenya-UK Military Agreement
MPs have threatened not to pass the Kenya-UK military agreement over the murder of Agnes Wanjiru by a British soldier nine years ago.
In what could see British forces vacate their training base in Nanyuki, MPs vowed to reject the military agreement unless the suspect in the murder of Wanjiru, 21, is surrendered and prosecuted under Kenyan law.
The National Assembly is required to approve the renewal of the defense cooperation between Kenya and the UK after the previous agreement expired.
“We have this draft agreement between Kenya and UK. We have a long-standing relation with the UK. We are looking at an agreement that has lapsed and now requires renewal unfortunately now when we are about to do the renewal, this subject of Agnes Wanjiru comes up,” Mandera North MP Bashir Abdullahi told Defense CS Eugene Wamalwa during a meeting on Tuesday.
“Until we have concrete evidence to suggest that the Kenyan government is looking into this matter and the culprit will be brought to book under the Kenyan justice system, only then will we append our signature on the defense cooperation pact.”
While acknowledging that the presence of British soldiers has a huge economic benefit to the country, Saku MP Dido Raso said there was a need for assurance in dealing with the murder case before the agreement is tabled in the House for ratification.
CS Wamalwa assured the MPs that the government is determined to ensure Wanjiru and her family get justice.
The CS added that he met with visiting British Defense Minister Ben Wallace, who assured him that the UK will cooperate fully with the Kenyan authorities to ensure justice is served.
Responding to CS Wamalwa, Yatta MP Charles Kilonzo said: “I don’t think anyone wants assurance that justice will be done everyone wants to see justice. It has been nine years of assurance people want to see justice done. You tell us you are in a hurry we ratify the defense cooperation agreement yet you are not in a hurry to prosecute the culpable criminals.”
On Monday, Inspector-General of Police Hillary Mutyambai directed the DCI to re-open the case on the murder of Wanjiru and ensure it is concluded before a court of law.