Amidst pivotal developments, the Kenyan government has taken a decisive step by initiating an inquiry into allegations of misconduct attributed to the British army. This move holds the potential to wield considerable influence over the prospective engagement of UK troops within the nation. The inquiry is primarily centered around the activities of the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk), with a sharp focus on grave accusations ranging from murder to instances of sexual abuse and ecological degradation in the vicinity of its Nanyuki base.

Kenya's parliamentary defence committee is leading the inquiry, set to solicit public petitions regarding alleged army crimes. Investigations are scheduled to begin in October, with findings expected to be reported to parliament by year-end. Implications for the Kenya-UK defence deal, allowing British troop training, could arise based on the inquiry's recommendations. Concerns over crimes committed by soldiers and lax handling of cases have stirred criticism in recent years.

In a statement, a British army spokesperson said, “We take all allegations made against UK service personnel seriously, and they are investigated swiftly by the service authorities or the host nation authorities with appropriate support from the armed forces. We expect very high standards of behaviour of our personnel, whether they are on or off duty.”

The spokesperson added, “The British army uses white phosphorus illuminant rounds on training exercises in the UK and overseas, they are never used as a weapon. They are not considered to be hazardous to health and safety, provided that the existing safety precautions are followed. In Kenya, the British army only fires white phosphorus on Archer’s Post training area, which is a Kenyan Ministry of Defence gazetted training area and not communal land.”

As per information provided on the UK government website, an annual sum of nearly 1.2 billion Kenyan shillings (£6.5 million) is allocated to support the defence partnership between Britain and Kenya. This partnership includes anti-terrorism training assistance. The presence of the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk) has reportedly contributed around 5.8 billion shillings to the local economy since 2016, according to official estimates.

Amidst this context, discussions surrounding the inquiry's dynamics have emerged. Francis Situma, a law professor at the University of Nairobi, highlighted the disparity in bargaining power between the two nations. He noted, "This isn’t a situation of equal bargaining power, and that explains a lot." The inquiry's timing and anticipated outcomes have sparked debate, with some questioning its potential impact.

Ndiritu Muriithi, the former governor of Laikipia County, underscored the importance of external pressure to prompt governmental action in cases of rights violations. Muriithi suggested that concrete actions tied to specific cases, like the murder investigation, could hold more weight than expressions of reservation.

Nonetheless, the parliamentary defence committee has emphasized the gravity of the issues at hand. Nelson Koech, the committee's chair, emphasized that any injustices attributed to Batuk cannot be disregarded. He voiced concern about avoiding neocolonialism and affirmed the country's stance against any actions that might infringe upon its sovereignty.

A spokesperson from the UK government addressed the case of Agnes Wanjiru, highlighting its significance. The spokesperson acknowledged the UK government's commitment to pursuing justice for Wanjiru and recognized the critical role that Kenyan law enforcement plays in the investigation. The UK government is reportedly collaborating closely with the Kenyan authorities to expedite progress in the matter.

Image source: The guardian