The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed that the alleged assault occurred near the British Army Training Unit in Nanyuki, over 200 kilometers from Nairobi. The victim, identified as a British national, has drawn attention to the ongoing issues surrounding the conduct of British forces at the training facility, which has seen prior allegations of misconduct.
A MoD representative stated, "We can confirm the arrest of a British service person in Kenya in relation to a report of a sexual offence. The service person has been repatriated to the UK, while the matter is under investigation by the UK Defence Serious Crime Command." This incident falls under the terms of the Defence Co-operation Agreement established between Kenya and the UK, which allows British forces to train in the East African nation.
This incident marks yet another serious allegation against UK troops stationed at the British Army Training Unit (Batuk), which has been the subject of scrutiny for its conduct towards local communities. Past accusations include the murder of a local woman, Agnes Wanjiru, in 2012, alongside numerous cases of mistreatment reported by Kenyan citizens. Kenya's Parliament launched a public inquiry last year, revealing testimonies of British soldiers’ misconduct, including claims of hit-and-run incidents and abandonment of local women following unwanted pregnancies.
As the UK military faces increased public and governmental pressure to address these serious allegations, observers fear for the future of UK-Kenya military relations amid these calls for accountability.
A MoD representative stated, "We can confirm the arrest of a British service person in Kenya in relation to a report of a sexual offence. The service person has been repatriated to the UK, while the matter is under investigation by the UK Defence Serious Crime Command." This incident falls under the terms of the Defence Co-operation Agreement established between Kenya and the UK, which allows British forces to train in the East African nation.
This incident marks yet another serious allegation against UK troops stationed at the British Army Training Unit (Batuk), which has been the subject of scrutiny for its conduct towards local communities. Past accusations include the murder of a local woman, Agnes Wanjiru, in 2012, alongside numerous cases of mistreatment reported by Kenyan citizens. Kenya's Parliament launched a public inquiry last year, revealing testimonies of British soldiers’ misconduct, including claims of hit-and-run incidents and abandonment of local women following unwanted pregnancies.
As the UK military faces increased public and governmental pressure to address these serious allegations, observers fear for the future of UK-Kenya military relations amid these calls for accountability.
