Africa-Press – Kenya. Kenya has refused to ratify a new bilateral defense agreement with the UK, leading to the cancellation of a planned military training exercise in the country. This decision comes amid a dispute between the two nations regarding jurisdiction, accountability of forces, and the terms of the British military presence in the East African nation.
As a result, a significant military training exercise involving the first battalion of the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment of the British Army, scheduled to begin in September, has been called off. Instead, the troops will train at an alternative location outside the country after the necessary training permits were not granted.
This development marks a rare setback for one of the UK’s longest military partnerships in Africa, as Kenya seeks to assert greater legal authority over British personnel stationed within its borders.
According to Kenyan media, the dispute centers on Kenya’s demand for broader powers to prosecute British soldiers accused of serious crimes during their service in the country.
British officials had hoped to renew the existing defense cooperation agreement, but Kenyan lawmakers pushed for amendments that would expand their jurisdiction in such matters.
Other sticking points in the negotiations include the amount paid by the UK to Kenya for hosting the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK), a long-established military facility near Nanyuki that serves as a key training ground for British forces abroad.
Nelson Koech, chair of the Defense, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee in the Kenyan National Assembly, stated that both governments are working diligently to resolve the outstanding issues.
A spokesperson for the British Ministry of Defense remarked, “The UK values its relationship with Kenya, which is based on mutual benefit, respect, and cooperation.”
They added, “The defense partnership between the UK and Kenya is a key strength in our relationship. Our training and joint operations with the Kenyan armed forces contribute to the security of both the Kenyan and British peoples.”
The spokesperson expressed the UK’s regret over the failure to issue the necessary permits for the Laikipia exercise, which forced the military to relocate training outside of Kenya.
The ministry stated that the UK remains committed to its defense partnership with Kenya and will continue to engage with Nairobi to resume military training in the country “at the earliest appropriate opportunity.”
In addition to military cooperation, the British Army in Kenya initiative (BATUK) contributes to the Kenyan economy by providing jobs, procurement, and spending by British forces during training exercises. The UK acknowledged that the cancellation of the training would impact local communities that benefit from the economic activity generated by the presence of troops.
These negotiations come amid increasing scrutiny of the British military presence in Kenya, following a report submitted to the Kenyan parliament last year detailing human rights violations, environmental damage, and sexual harassment involving British soldiers stationed in the country.
Among the most notable cases is the death of Agnes Wanjiru, a Kenyan woman whose body was found in a sewage tank in 2012 after she was last seen with British soldiers.
