Brian Kiprop Kiplagat, the boyfriend of London banker Marianne Kilonzi who was found beaten to death in her Woolwich flat, will be extradited back to the United Kingdom after being arrested in Kenya. The 39-year-old was detained on June 10 while attempting to travel to Tanzania, ending a 16-month international manhunt.
Court appearance and extradition granted
Kiplagat appeared at the Milimani law courts in Kenya earlier this month. Following an extradition request by UK officials, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in Kenya has directed that extradition proceedings be instituted. The ODPP stated: “Upon a comprehensive review of the extradition request and the supporting evidentiary material, the DPP has directed that extradition proceedings be instituted before the courts in Kenya.”
Details of the crime
Marianne Kilonzi, 43, was found dead with a head injury in her riverside flat in Woolwich, south-east London, last year. A post-mortem examination determined that she died of blunt force trauma to the head. Kilonzi had attended university in Nairobi before joining Citibank in Kenya. She was later transferred to work with the company in London in 2023.
Impact and response
Citibank expressed their condolences last year, saying: “We are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of our colleague. Our thoughts are with Marianne's family and friends during this difficult time.” The extradition marks a significant step in the investigation, as Kiplagat is now due to be returned to the UK for questioning over the killing.
