Kenyan MPs accuse British soldiers from Batuk of sexual abuse in Laikipia

The Kenyan parliament accused British soldiers of committing decades of sexual assaults, murder, human rights abuses and environmental destruction while training in the country.

The report detailed harrowing testimonies from communities in Laikipia and Samburu counties, near military training bases.

British soldiers are accused of evading accountability by refusing to cooperate with the parliamentary investigation.

The UK High Commission in Kenya said it regretted that its report was not reflected in the report’s conclusions and stressed its willingness to investigate the allegations “fully under our jurisdiction, once the evidence is presented”.

For decades, troops from the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATOK) have been training in central Kenya, but their presence has long sparked controversy, with soldiers accused of misconduct and rights violations.

More than 1,000 Kenyan soldiers receive British training each year, while thousands of British troops are sent to Kenya for training.

In a 94-page report following a two-year investigation, Kenya’s Parliamentary Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations accused Batok of continuing ethical violations, rights abuses and environmental neglect, as well as employment and employment concerns.

The Commission cited verbal and written submissions from affected civilians, victims, community leaders, civil society organizations and public agencies.

The report said that during the investigation, host communities complained of killings, assaults and mutilations, including public fights and fatal traffic accidents, involving Batok soldiers.

The report said that Batok “is increasingly viewed as an occupying presence rather than a partner in development, with affected populations being compared to colonial injustices.”

Among the worst cases was the 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru, whose body was found in a septic tank of a hotel in the central garrison town of Nanyuki, nearly three months after she allegedly spent an evening with British soldiers.

“The pursuit of justice has been slow and full of frustration,” the committee said.

He added: “It has been said that the investigation process faced undue interference and obstruction by Batok individuals, which continues to hamper the delivery of justice.”

A former British soldier accused of Wanjiru’s murder was arrested last month after an arrest warrant was issued in the UK and now faces extradition to Kenya. He denied the charge, and his lawyers said he intended to appeal his extradition.

Another case is the “unlawful killing” of pastor Tailam Leriche by a Batok sergeant in 2012, “yet no arrest or prosecution has been made in Kenya or the UK.”

The United Kingdom had previously expressed its regret over the shooting of Lerich by a British soldier on duty, but… In a statement to the parliamentary committee in October, the Ministry of Defense indicated that British prosecutors had concluded that there was insufficient evidence to bring charges.. The UK said it remains open to considering any new evidence that may emerge.

The report also noted “disturbing trends of sexual misconduct by Batok individuals” and claimed that survivors of sexual violence reported cases being dropped or mishandled by local authorities, with “many victims being denied access to justice.”

It cited “conclusive evidence” of widespread sexual violence committed by Batuk soldiers, especially against women from the Samburu and Maasai communities.

“Cases of rape and sexual violence committed by Batuk soldiers remain unsolved, and justice has not been achieved for the victims.”

The report documented victims’ testimonies, detailing how British soldiers preyed on local women, attacking them while fetching firewood or water or herding livestock.

She recounted a horrific incident in 1997 in The Archer Post in which “30 women were gang-raped at knifepoint,” some of them inside their homes.

Patok said she has “zero tolerance for sexual exploitation and abuse” and takes such allegations seriously.

Witnesses also described instances of violations of public morals by soldiers, including exposing themselves in social settings and city centres, often involving intoxication, disorderly conduct and, in some cases, violent or sexually aggressive behaviour.

In addition to rape and assault, the investigation also documented cases of abandoned “orphaned” children.

The report stated: “Dozens of children were fathered by British soldiers who returned home, leaving behind single mothers facing stigma and financial difficulties.”

The deputies also alleged that Batok never conducted legally required environmental and social impact assessments for its field exercises, and raised concerns about the possible use of white phosphorus, which they described as “notorious due to the seriousness of injuries it causes.”

Residents reported respiratory problems, miscarriages, and livestock deaths due to toxic fumes and military waste residue.

In one case, a guard reportedly died after taking home unexploded ordnance from a Batok group, while a child was said to have lost both arms and an eye after meeting another.

In her defence, Batok said independent environmental audits had shown high levels of compliance with Kenyan regulations.

The investigative committee said that Batok “stubbornly” refused to appear before the committee and instead “invoked allegations of diplomatic immunity.”

The British Ministry of Defense said it responded to the issues highlighted during the investigation and “outlined the actions taken to address the concerns raised.”

The British High Commission said in a statement that it is ready to investigate “cases in which new allegations have emerged in the committee’s report.”

“We deeply regret the challenges that have arisen in relation to our defense presence in Kenya,” the statement read.

But the parliamentary committee found the current defense cooperation agreement between Kenya and the UK to be “structurally flawed”, saying the legal instrument had major loopholes.

She noted that “the crime of murder, despite its seriousness, is not explicitly listed… as a crime considered outside the context of official duty.”

This created a “major obstacle to justice,” she said, adding that the current oversight mechanism was largely ineffective.

The committee recommended amending the military agreement to introduce a code of conduct for visiting forces, zero-tolerance rules for gender-based violence, environmental obligations, and civilian oversight.

It also called on the Kenyan Ministry of Defense to negotiate with the UK government on mechanisms to hold Batuk soldiers accountable for child support.