Kenyan MP accuses British soldiers from Batuk of sexual abuse in Laikipia

Kenya’s parliament has accused British soldiers of decades of sexual abuse, killings, human rights abuses and environmental damage during training in the country.

The report details harrowing testimonies from communities in Laikipia and Samburu counties near the military training base.

British soldiers have been accused of evading responsibility by refusing to cooperate with a parliamentary inquiry.

The British High Commission in Kenya said it regretted that its submissions were not reflected in the report’s conclusions and confirmed that the allegations “will be fully investigated within our jurisdiction once the evidence is provided”.

Troops from the British Army Training Corps in Kenya (Batuk) have been training in central Kenya for decades, but their presence has long been controversial, with soldiers accused of misconduct and rights violations.

More than 1,000 Kenyan soldiers receive British training every year, while thousands of British soldiers are sent to Kenya for training exercises.

Following a two-year investigation, the Kenyan Parliament’s Defense, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee accused Batuk of ongoing ethical violations, rights violations and environmental neglect, as well as employment and labor issues, in a 94-page report.

The panel cited oral and written submissions from affected civilians, victims, community leaders, civil society organizations and public institutions.

During the investigation, host communities complained of killings, attacks and maiming incidents involving Batuk soldiers, including public fights and fatal traffic accidents, the report said.

Batuk “is increasingly seen as an occupier rather than a development partner, with affected residents comparing it to colonial-era injustices,” the report said.

One of the most serious cases was the 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru, whose body was found in a hotel septic tank in the central garrison town of Nanyuki, nearly three months after she was accused of spending a night with British soldiers.

The panel said “the process of delivering justice has been slow and frustrating”.

It added: “The investigation process has allegedly faced undue interference and obstruction, allegedly by Batuk personnel, which continues to impede the delivery of justice.”

A former British soldier accused of Wanjiru’s murder was arrested last month after a warrant was issued in Britain and now faces extradition to Kenya. He denies the allegation and his lawyers have said he intends to challenge extradition.

In another case in 2012, a Batuk police officer allegedly “unlawfully killed” herder Tilam Leresh, “but no arrest or prosecution has been made in Kenya or the UK”.

The UK has previously expressed regret over the shooting of Leresh by a British soldier on duty, but In a statement to a parliamentary committee in October, the Ministry of Defense noted that UK prosecutors concluded there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.. Britain said it remained willing to consider any new evidence that might emerge.

The report also noted “troubling trends in sexual misconduct by Batuk personnel” and claimed survivors of sexual violence reported cases being abandoned or mishandled by local authorities, with “many victims being denied access to justice”.

It cited “compelling evidence” of widespread sexual violence by Batuk soldiers, particularly against women from the Samburu and Maasai communities.

“Cases of rape and sexual violence by Batuk soldiers remain unsolved and victims have not received justice.”

The report documents victim testimonies detailing how British soldiers allegedly preyed on local women, attacking them as they fetched firewood, water or grazed livestock.

It tells the story of a horrific incident in 1997 in The Archer Post where “30 women were gang-raped at knifepoint”, some in their own homes.

Bartuk said it had “zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse” and took any such allegations very seriously.

Witnesses also described public indecency by soldiers, including exposing themselves in social settings and city centers, often involving drunkenness, disorderly behavior and sometimes violent or sexually assaultive behavior.

As well as rapes and assaults, the inquiry also documented cases of abandoned “fatherless” children.

“Returning British soldiers gave birth to dozens of children, leaving behind single mothers facing stigma and financial hardship,” the statement said.

MPs also claimed that Batuk had never carried out legally required environmental and social impact assessments of its field exercises and expressed concerns about the possible use of white phosphorus, which they said was “notorious for the serious harm it causes”.

Residents reported toxic fumes and remaining military waste causing respiratory problems, miscarriages and livestock deaths.

A ranger reportedly died after bringing home unexploded ordnance from the Batuk shooting range, while a child reportedly lost both arms and an eye after an encounter with another child.

In his defence, Batuk said independent environmental audits showed a high level of compliance with Kenyan regulations.

The panel said Batuk had “consistently” refused to appear before the committee, instead “invoking diplomatic immunity”.

The MoD said it had responded to the issues highlighted during the investigation and “outlined the actions taken to address the concerns raised”.

The British High Commission said in a statement that it was prepared to investigate “the new allegations identified in the committee’s report”.

“We deeply regret the challenges faced by our defense presence in Kenya,” the statement said.

But a parliamentary panel found “structural flaws” in the existing defense cooperation agreement between Kenya and the UK, saying there were huge gaps in the legal instrument.

It noted that “despite the seriousness of the offense of murder, it was not expressly listed… as a crime outside the scope of official duties”.

It argued that this created “significant obstacles” to the administration of justice, adding that existing oversight mechanisms were largely ineffective.

The committee recommended amending the military agreement to introduce a code of conduct for visiting troops, zero-tolerance rules on gender-based violence, environmental obligations and civilian oversight.

It also called on the Kenyan defense ministry to negotiate with the British government on a mechanism for Batuk soldiers to take on child-rearing responsibilities.