https://en.sputniknews.africa/20231130/uk-feels-entitled-to-kenya-niece-of-murdered-agnes-wanjiru-on-batuks-stance-in-court-1063864632.html
'UK Feels Entitled to Kenya': Niece of Murdered Agnes Wanjiru on BATUK's Stance in Court
'UK Feels Entitled to Kenya': Niece of Murdered Agnes Wanjiru on BATUK's Stance in Court
Sputnik Africa
The commander of the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK) earlier asked the High Court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the family of Agnes Wanjiru, who... 30.11.2023, Sputnik Africa
2023-11-30T12:58+0100
2023-11-30T12:58+0100
2023-12-01T08:36+0100
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BATUK's refusal to allow the unit's atrocities to be investigated in Kenyan courts shows that colonialism still exists in Kenya, with a colonial master, the UK, which doesn't care about the people of the East African nation, Esther Njoki, the niece of Kenyan Agnes Wanjiru, who was allegedly killed by BATUK soldiers, told Sputnik Africa.Her comments came after a court hearing Wednesday into the murder of 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru presumably by British soldiers situated in Kenya. The lifeless body of Wanjiru, the mother of a two-year-old daughter, was discovered in a septic tank in Nanyuki in 2012. She was last seen alive with a British soldier. In 2021, one of the soldiers in the unit reportedly confessed to the murder to his comrades, but no one has been prosecuted for the crime ever since.In a lawsuit filed in the Nairobi High Court, Wanjiru's family said they believe the Kenyan government and the British administration deliberately concealed the name of the perpetrator.Commenting on the outcomes of the hearing held the previous day, Njoki noted that not all defendants had submitted a report to the court and that only two defendants were present at the hearing itself.She added that "justice has not prevailed" and announced plans for the family of the slain woman to file another affidavit in January.Earlier this month, Njoki revealed to Sputnik Africa that her family had not received any support from the UK government since the woman's murder, and complained that the British government was not paying child support even though it "should be held responsible for it."BATUK is believed to be responsible for many serious atrocities that have drawn public condemnation in Kenya. The British military unit has been accused of killing and injuring people and livestock with unexploded bombs during soldier training exercises in reserves and communities.In an interview with Sputnik Africa earlier in November, a Kenyan activist James Mwangi Macharia, executive chairman of the African Center for Corrective and Preventive Action (ACCPA), said that the killing of Wanjiru is "one of the most painful atrocities committed against a Kenyan since independence," and the purported inaction of the authorities in regard to this case has prompted the NGO to intervene.After the fire, the local community filed a lawsuit against BATUK. A Kenyan court ordered the British army to pay compensation, but on October 20, residents of central Kenya condemned its absence.
https://en.sputniknews.africa/20231117/niece-of-kenyan-agnes-wanjiru-allegedly-killed-by-batuk-soldiers-accuses-london-of-covering-up-case-1063609826.html
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africa in details, kenya, united kingdom (uk), east africa, british colonialism, colonialism, court, crime, military
africa in details, kenya, united kingdom (uk), east africa, british colonialism, colonialism, court, crime, military
'UK Feels Entitled to Kenya': Niece of Murdered Agnes Wanjiru on BATUK's Stance in Court
12:58 30.11.2023 (Updated: 08:36 01.12.2023) The commander of the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK) earlier asked the High Court to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the family of Agnes Wanjiru, who was allegedly killed by one of his soldiers. He argued that Kenyan courts have no jurisdiction to hear a case against the unit and that BATUK enjoys immunity from the British government.
BATUK's refusal to allow the unit's atrocities to be investigated in Kenyan courts shows that colonialism still exists in Kenya, with a colonial master, the UK, which doesn't care about the people of the East African nation, Esther Njoki, the niece of Kenyan Agnes Wanjiru, who was allegedly killed by BATUK soldiers, told Sputnik Africa.
"According to the report that the British filed yesterday saying that they can't be sued in Kenya, it really shows that there is still colonialism in Kenya," Njoki said. "They don't care who we are. They have an audacity to say that they can't be sued in Kenya. They feel entitled to our country because they are our colonizers."
Her comments came after a court hearing Wednesday into the murder of 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru presumably by British soldiers situated in Kenya. The lifeless body of Wanjiru, the mother of a two-year-old daughter, was discovered in a septic tank in Nanyuki in 2012. She was last seen alive with a British soldier. In 2021, one of the soldiers in the unit reportedly confessed to the murder to his comrades, but no one has been prosecuted for the crime ever since.
In a lawsuit filed in the Nairobi High Court, Wanjiru's family said they believe the
Kenyan government and the British administration deliberately concealed the name of the perpetrator.
Commenting on the outcomes of the hearing held the previous day, Njoki noted that not all defendants had submitted a report to the court and that only two defendants were present at the hearing itself.
"For us it is so sad because it shows that they [the British authorities] still continue the cover-up of the case," the victim's niece emphasized.
She added that "justice has not prevailed" and announced plans for the family of the slain woman to file another affidavit in January.
Earlier this month, Njoki revealed to Sputnik Africa that her family had not received any support from the UK government since the woman's murder, and complained that the British government was not paying child support even though it "should be held responsible for it."
BATUK is believed to be responsible for many
serious atrocities that have drawn public condemnation in Kenya. The British military unit has been accused of killing and injuring people and livestock with unexploded bombs during soldier training exercises in reserves and communities.
In an interview with
Sputnik Africa earlier in November, a Kenyan activist
James Mwangi Macharia, executive chairman of the African Center for Corrective and Preventive Action (ACCPA), said that the killing of Wanjiru is
"one of the most painful atrocities committed against a Kenyan since independence," and the purported inaction of the authorities in regard to this case has prompted the NGO to intervene.
The charges also concern damage caused during the unit's military exercise in 2021. During the trainings, a devastating fire broke out in the Lolldaiga region of the state, wiping out more than 4,800 hectares of land and injuring local residents.
After the fire, the local community filed a lawsuit against BATUK. A Kenyan court ordered the British army to pay compensation, but on October 20, residents of central Kenya condemned its absence.
