A Kenyan Parliamentary report on the conduct of the UK troops stationed in the military base close to the town of Nanyuki, alleged harrowing details of human rights violations, environmental destruction and sexual abuse by British soldiers.
A Kenyan Parliamentary report on the conduct of the UK troops stationed in the military base close to the town of Nanyuki, alleged harrowing details of human rights violations, environmental destruction and sexual abuse by British soldiers.
The allegations were made following a detailed inquiry into the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (Batuk), which was carried out by Kenya’s departmental committee on defencе, intelligence and foreign relations. The report collected the testimonies at public hearings in Laikipia County and Samburu County, and also received oral and written submissions from affected civilians, victims, community leaders, civil society organisations and relevant public agencies, The Guardian reported.
“Throughout the inquiry, the committee encountered significant institutional resistance and non-cooperation from Batuk, which persistently declined to appear before the committee and instead invoked claims of diplomatic immunity,” the report read.
The inquiry, chaired by the Kenyan MP Nelson Koech, “uncovered a disturbing trend of sexual misconduct by Batuk personnel, marked by rape, assault and abandonment of children fathered by soldiers”. “Survivors of sexual violence reported cases being dropped or mishandled by local authorities, with many victims denied access to justice,” the report said.
Sexual abuse and war crimes committed by British troops
It noted that an internal inquiry by Batuk between 2003 and 2004 into rape allegations “was found to have seized evidence and dismissed most complaints as false, without publishing its findings. These cases were compounded by the absence of any mechanism within either the UK or Kenyan justice systems to hold Batuk soldiers accountable for child support or other consequences of such misconduct.”
The inquiry also mentioned the “deep concern” over the killing of Agnes Wanjiru, whose body was found in a septic tank in the grounds of a hotel where she had been drinking with British soldiers in 2012. “It was submitted that the process of investigation has faced undue interference and obstruction, allegedly by Batuk personnel, which continues to hinder the delivery of justice,” the report read.
It is pertinent to note that a former British soldier has been arrested in relation to Wanjiru’s death, and extradition proceedings have started. The soldier, however, has denied the charge and has said he intends to contest the extradition.
Other allegations mentioned in the 94-page document are that a man named Tilam Leresh was shot and killed by a Batuk officer while herding livestock, that local people had been injured by unexploded ordnance, and a former G4S supervisor at Batuk alleged that military aircraft had deliberately frightened livestock, causing distress to farmers.
“The committee received extensive evidence of environmental degradation caused by Batuk’s activities,” the report said. “Many witnesses expressed concern that Batuk’s military exercises have caused serious ecological damage in the training areas of Laikipia and Samburu, with corresponding harm to public health, livelihoods and conservation efforts,” it added.
What are the recommendations?
The Kenyan parliamentary committee also listed a number of recommendations, including the development of a visiting forces code of conduct to include zero tolerance of sexual violence, as well as setting out environmental obligations and social responsibility. Some of them are as follows:
The establishment of a survivor liaison unit to offer legal aid to victims of crimes linked to Batuk personnel.
British and Kenyan governments should negotiate “mechanisms to hold Batuk soldiers accountable for child support”.
The formation of a military-linked crimes task force to oversee the investigation and prosecution of offences committed by foreign military personnel.
The British Ministry of Defence stated in response to the report. “We were grateful for the opportunity to submit evidence to Kenya’s National Assembly defence, intelligence and foreign relations committee’s inquiry into conduct at the British Army Training Unit Kenya and note the publishing of the inquiry report today,” the ministry said in the statement.
“We deeply regret the challenges which have arisen in relation to our defence presence in Kenya. Our statement – offered in the spirit of cooperation to the committee – responded to the issues highlighted during the inquiry into Batuk and outlined the actions taken to address the concerns raised.
“Where new allegations have come to light in the committee’s report, we stand ready to investigate those under our jurisdiction fully once evidence is provided,” it added.
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