Marianne Kilonzi Murder: DPP Asks Nairobi Court to Send Suspect to London for Trial
Kenyan prosecutors have insisted that local courts cannot determine the truth of criminal charges against an extradition target, arguing that their only role is to decide if legal surrender conditions have been met.
The position was outlined by Senior Assistant Director of Public Prosecutions Duncan Ondimu during proceedings against Brian Kiprop Kiplagat, who is wanted in the United Kingdom over eight serious offences, including the murder of his girlfriend Marianne Kilonzi.
The defence team sought to introduce evidence challenging the factual merits of the UK charges, arguing that Kiplagat has deep family ties in Kenya, has cooperated with local authorities, and should be tried locally.
Prosecutor Ondimu opposed the move, maintaining that determining guilt or innocence belongs entirely to the courts where the alleged crimes occurred. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has formally urged the Nairobi court to approve Kiplagat’s surrender.
The suspect fled Britain following the killing and returned to Kenya to evade capture. His 16-month run ended on June 10, 2026, when immigration officers intercepted and arrested him at the Namanga border post as he attempted to cross into Tanzania using a temporary travel permit and other suspect documents.
The court heard details of the alleged murder and subsequent actions outlined in UK arrest warrants from Westminster Magistrates’ Court. Authorities allege that Kilonzi, a 43-year-old vice president of trade and working capital sales at Citibank, was beaten to death in her home between January 12 and 28, 2025.
Metropolitan Police officers discovered her body on January 17, 2025, after her family and colleagues raised concerns. A post-mortem examination showed she died of blunt force trauma and severe head injuries.
Prosecutors allege that Kiplagat made a calculated attempt to manipulate the crime scene and delay discovery of the body. He allegedly placed concentrated laundry scent beads directly onto Kilonzi’s body to mask the smell of decomposition, an act cited as an attempt to pervert the course of justice.
He is also accused of taking her smartphone to cut off communication, conceal records, and carry out fraudulent financial transactions. He faces four counts of fraud by false representation involving alleged unauthorized transfers from her bank accounts to his own, alongside the misuse of her credit card.
The victim attended university in Nairobi before transferring with Citibank to London in 2023. She connected with Kiplagat on WhatsApp in January 2024, and he moved into her flat on Argyll Road in Woolwich, London, in September 2024.
Following the killing, her family brought her remains back to Kenya for burial at her ancestral home. Relatives described Kilonzi as warm, loving, and kind, and called for full accountability.
If approved, UK law enforcement officers will travel to Kenya to take custody of Kiplagat at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport and escort him aboard a flight to London. If convicted, he will serve his prison sentence in the UK.
Similar arrangements were executed in September 2024 when FBI agents flew to Nairobi to take custody of murder suspect Kevin Kang’ethe, who had fled to Kenya after allegedly killing his girlfriend in Massachusetts.
The ODPP assured the court that Kiplagat’s constitutional rights, including access to medical care while in custody, are being safeguarded, and that unrelated personal belongings will be returned.
The court scheduled the case for mention on November 5, 2026, with a ruling on the extradition application expected on November 19, 2026.
