Suspect Brian Kiplagat in court/DPP

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has asked the court to order the extradition of Kenyan national Brian Kiprop Kiplagat to the United Kingdom, where he is wanted in connection with criminal allegations, including murder.

Prosecution counsel Duncan Ondimu told the court that British authorities had issued warrants for Kiplagat over offences allegedly committed in Woolwich, in the Borough of Greenwich, between January 12 and 28, 2025.

Ondimu said the extradition proceedings were not intended to determine whether Kiplagat committed the offences, but rather whether the legal requirements for his surrender to the UK had been met.

“The extradition proceedings are not a trial on the merits of the allegations against the respondent,” the prosecution told the court.

The DPP argued that the allegations should be addressed by the courts in the jurisdiction where they allegedly occurred. It also submitted that Kiplagat’s constitutional rights would continue to be safeguarded throughout the process.

“The role of this court is to determine whether the requirements for extradition have been met,” counsel Ondimu submitted.

According to the prosecution, Westminster Magistrates’ Court issued warrants against Kiplagat in connection with eight counts.

They include murder, manslaughter, two counts of perverting the course of justice and four counts of fraud by false representation.

The prosecution alleged that the offences arose from events surrounding Kiplagat’s relationship with the deceased, whom he reportedly met on WhatsApp in January 2024.

The documents further state that Kiplagat moved into the deceased’s residence in September 2024.

According to the prosecution, the two counts of perverting the course of justice relate to allegations that Kiplagat placed laundry beads on the deceased and removed her mobile phone from her residence.

The prosecution also alleges that money was transferred from the deceased’s bank accounts to accounts held by Kiplagat and that her credit card was used without authorisation.

Kiplagat is presumed innocent of the allegations against him unless found guilty by a court of law.

The DPP further assured the court that Kiplagat’s rights would be protected, including his access to healthcare, while property unrelated to the extradition proceedings would be returned to him.

The extradition request follows an earlier bail hearing in which the prosecution alleged that Kiplagat attempted to leave Kenya through the Namanga border towards Tanzania on June 10, 2025, but was intercepted.

The prosecution further alleged that he was travelling using a temporary permit despite holding a Kenyan passport.

Kiplagat had argued that he had deep ties to Kenya and had been cooperative with the court, maintaining that he was entitled to bail.

The court, however, declined to release him on bail after finding that he posed a flight risk.

The extradition matter will be mentioned on November 5, 2026, while a ruling has been scheduled for November 19, 2026.