Carl Singleton, 41, pleaded not guilty to killing 22-year old Peris Ashley Agumbi on November 19 last year, in the Kiambu district just north of the capital Nairobi.
Agumbi died in a Nairobi hospital from diabetic hypertension and respiratory failure.
Singleton, who comes from northwestern England's Cumbria region, met Agumbi online before travelling to Kenya to meet the student.
Singleton was arrested a week after her death, but was later released without charge. However, prosecutors later said there was enough evidence to proceed to trial.