A Kenyan parliamentary inquiry has accused British troops stationed in the country of engaging in widespread sexual misconduct and causing environmental damage, warning that their actions have made them appear more like an “occupying presence” than a partner.
The investigation, conducted by the parliamentary committee on defence and foreign relations, reflects growing public frustration over the behaviour of soldiers from the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK). The unit has faced multiple high-profile allegations in recent years, ranging from criminal misconduct to environmental violations.
A spokesperson for Britain’s Ministry of Defence told Reuters that the ministry deeply regrets “the challenges that have arisen in relation to our defence presence in Kenya,” and expressed willingness to investigate any new allegations presented in the committee’s report once sufficient evidence is provided.
Thousands of British soldiers pass through Kenya each year for training exercises under a long-standing defence cooperation agreement between the two countries.
Among the most serious allegations is the 2012 murder of 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru, whose body was found near a British training camp in Nanyuki. The primary suspect, British soldier Robert Purkiss, was arrested in the United Kingdom last month following years of advocacy by Wanjiru’s family and Kenyan human rights groups. They claim that the perpetrator had been shielded by the defence agreement between Kenya and Britain.
Purkiss, who is currently facing extradition proceedings, has denied any involvement in Wanjiru’s death.
The committee’s report, dated November 25 and published on the Kenyan Parliament’s website on Tuesday, stated that it had “uncovered a disturbing trend of sexual misconduct by BATUK personnel, marked by rape, assault, and abandonment of children fathered by soldiers.”
It also revealed testimonies from public hearings in areas where BATUK operates, detailing numerous injuries and deaths among Kenyan workers hired to clear unexploded ordnance without protective gear. The report further accused the unit of causing significant environmental harm through the “illegal dumping of toxic materials.”
“BATUK is increasingly seen as an occupying presence rather than a development partner,” the report concluded.
In its written submission to the committee, BATUK maintained that it enforces a strict zero-tolerance policy toward sexual exploitation and abuse, emphasizing that it “takes any allegations very seriously.” The unit also stated that environmental audits have shown high levels of compliance with Kenyan environmental regulations.
The current defence cooperation agreement between Kenya and the United Kingdom, signed in 2021, is due to expire next year.
