British troops stationed at a Kenya military base accused of human rights abuses and sex crimes.
Kenya's parliament has released a damning report on British soldiers' conduct at a training facility near Nanyuki, accusing them of rape, assault, and abandoning children fathered by soldiers. Survivors of the alleged abuse were allegedly denied justice by local authorities. The UK Ministry of Defence has apologized for the issues raised in the inquiry but denied any wrongdoing.
The 94-page report highlights institutional resistance from British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk) personnel who declined to appear before a parliamentary committee or cooperate with its investigation. Despite this, the probe uncovered evidence of systemic abuse and poor handling by local authorities.
Environmental damage also emerged as a concern in the report. Batuk's military exercises have allegedly disrupted wildlife habitats, causing harm to public health, livelihoods, and conservation efforts. The report details an incident in 2021 where British troops caused a fire that destroyed over 10,000 acres of land, displacing residents and disrupting local flora and fauna.
In response to the allegations, a former British soldier has been arrested in connection with the death of Agnes Wanjiru, whose body was found in a septic tank after she had been drinking with British soldiers. Extradition proceedings have begun, but he denies the charge and plans to contest it.
The report recommends measures such as zero tolerance for sexual violence, environmental obligations, and social responsibility. It also calls for an establishment of a survivor liaison unit to offer legal aid to victims and mechanisms to hold British troops accountable for child support.
Kenya's parliament has released a damning report on British soldiers' conduct at a training facility near Nanyuki, accusing them of rape, assault, and abandoning children fathered by soldiers. Survivors of the alleged abuse were allegedly denied justice by local authorities. The UK Ministry of Defence has apologized for the issues raised in the inquiry but denied any wrongdoing.
The 94-page report highlights institutional resistance from British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk) personnel who declined to appear before a parliamentary committee or cooperate with its investigation. Despite this, the probe uncovered evidence of systemic abuse and poor handling by local authorities.
Environmental damage also emerged as a concern in the report. Batuk's military exercises have allegedly disrupted wildlife habitats, causing harm to public health, livelihoods, and conservation efforts. The report details an incident in 2021 where British troops caused a fire that destroyed over 10,000 acres of land, displacing residents and disrupting local flora and fauna.
In response to the allegations, a former British soldier has been arrested in connection with the death of Agnes Wanjiru, whose body was found in a septic tank after she had been drinking with British soldiers. Extradition proceedings have begun, but he denies the charge and plans to contest it.
The report recommends measures such as zero tolerance for sexual violence, environmental obligations, and social responsibility. It also calls for an establishment of a survivor liaison unit to offer legal aid to victims and mechanisms to hold British troops accountable for child support.