A parliamentary inquiry has flagged BATUK for lack of transparency and accountability, citing allegations of misconduct and abuse of power
Kenyan lawmakers have accused British soldiers of murder, sexual assault, torture, and contempt following a two-year investigation into alleged crimes committed by the UK army in the East African country.
A parliamentary committee report on the conduct of troops from the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), released earlier this week, highlighted several instances of human rights violations, including harassment, unlawful detention, and forced evictions of locals near Nanyuki, where BATUK is based.
“The inquiry… uncovered a disturbing trend of sexual misconduct by BATUK personnel, marked by rape, assault, and abandonment of children fathered by soldiers,” the Departmental Committee on Defense, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations wrote.
The 94-pages report puts a fresh spotlight on the unresolved 2012 murder of 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru, whose body was found in a hotel septic tank months after she was last seen leaving a Nanyuki bar with British soldiers. Former British soldier Robert James Purkiss, wanted in connection with Wanjiru’s death, was arrested in November in the UK – more than a decade later – and is fighting extradition to Kenya.
It also cited incidents dating back to the 1990s, which the committee likened to the injustices of British colonial rule.
The committee found that BATUK has “persistently” refused to appear before parliament, instead invoking diplomatic immunity and responding only through unsigned written documents submitted via Kenya’s Foreign Ministry. The lawmakers described the move as “institutional contempt for the authority of parliament and, by extension, the sovereignty of the people of Kenya,” and a lack of transparency and accountability in BATUK’s operations.
BATUK was established in 1964 under the post-independence Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between Nairobi and London and provides infantry, engineering, and medical training for rotating British battalions on Kenyan soil.
The DCA has long faced scrutiny due to unresolved issues regarding jurisdiction, accountability, and compensation for local communities who have accused the unit of abuses, environmental damage, and fatalities during exercises.
Britain’s Ministry of Defense has said it takes the allegations seriously and will consider any evidence submitted by the Kenyan authorities.
The Kenyan committee has proposed amending the DCA to ensure it aligns with local laws and protects the rights of locals.
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