The family of the late Agnes Wanjiru who was allegedly murdered by a British soldier in Nanyuki, Laikipia County is demanding justice 12 years later in a bid to find closure of their unending agony.
Speaking in Nanyuki during a parliamentary Department Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations session on Tuesday, Esther Njoki, a niece to the late Wanjiru said that they were undergoing a lot of difficulties trying to seek justice for their dead kin.
‘’The UK authorities always tell us they are cooperating with Kenya’s government, how are you working out to ensure this case is closed and when will the charges begin since we are worried time is running out and key witnesses are dying? she questioned the Defence committee.
She said that it was taking so long in concluding the investigations for the perpetrators to be brought to book, claiming that the session with the committee could be like any other sitting as the family has had so many of such that had yielded no results.
‘’Our prayer as a family, we want closure to this matter, Wanjiru ‘s daughter, we are worried about her mental health deteriorating since her mother’s incident and the only way to protect her is by getting justice. Do the right thing,” she urged the Parliamentarians.
The Defence committee chair Belgut MP Nelson Koech expressed regret for the murder of Agnes, saying that the committee was in the county on a fact-finding mission to determine whether there could be any other deaths or atrocities committed by the soldiers which are unreported.
‘’What I want to assure you is that justice will be served because this committee is competent and has enough resources to make sure that you are given the dignity you deserve,’’ Keoch told Nanyuki residents.
Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri has given residents assurance that justice will be served to the family of Agnes citing that the leaders of this region have put a united front to pursue it.
He further stated that most of the diplomatic bureaucracies that have been a hindrance to getting justice have been addressed thereby giving hope to the matter being brought to closure.
On her part Laikipia North MP Sarah Korere assured residents and the family of the late Agnes Wanjiru that justice will be served since they were committed to ensuring the perpetrators of the atrocities were brought to book.
Among other issues raised by residents during the public participation included unfair employment opportunities by British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK).
By Muturi Mwangi
