UK to Compensate Kenyans After Military-Induced Fire Incident

The British government has reached an agreement to compensate nearly 7,723 Kenyans affected by a fire linked to a British military exercise in March 2021. The settlement comes after ongoing litigation alleging loss of property and health impacts due to the fire in the Lolldaiga conservancy, which destroyed a significant portion of the land.

The UK government has confirmed its agreement to compensate thousands of Kenyans affected by a catastrophic fire that erupted during a British military exercise in the Lolldaiga conservancy four years ago. This decision comes after an extensive legal dispute involving 7,723 claimants who reported losses in property and health issues stemming from the incident.

The British High Commission in Nairobi described the event as "extremely regrettable" and asserted that extensive resources had been allocated to resolve the claims. While the total compensation amount has not been officially disclosed, an attorney involved in the case indicated that the payout could be around £2.9 million.

Attorney Kevin Kubai characterized the settlement as the "best possible outcome," despite clients expressing that the compensation amounts were insufficient to cover their actual damages. He noted that continuing litigation could have lasted another seven years, complicated by the loss of evidence over time.

Although the clients could not substantiate claims of health damages due to smoke inhalation with medical records, it was acknowledged that their use of firewood for cooking contributed to health issues following the fire. An investigation by the UK Ministry of Defence in 2022 attributed the blaze to a camp stove overturned during the training exercise, which ultimately destroyed around 7,000 acres of private land.

Legal arguments highlighted possible environmental impacts on neighboring communities due to smoke and property damage caused by stampeding wildlife. In addition to compensation, the UK government has engaged in efforts to restore the affected conservancy area, where military exercises continue to be held.

The Lolldaiga conservancy spans roughly 49,000 acres of rugged bushland, set against the backdrop of Mount Kenya. It forms part of the Laikipia plateau, a region historically intertwined with colonial land disputes. Nearby, the refurbished Nyati Barracks serves as a £70 million facility for the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk), which annually hosts large military exercises in this prime training terrain.

Despite contributing significantly to the local economy, Batuk has faced scrutiny due to allegations regarding soldier misconduct, including fatal incidents and exploitative behavior towards local women.