Kenyan MPs accuse British soldiers of decades of sexual abuse

Nairobi, Kenya Kenya’s parliament has accused British soldiers stationed in the country of committing decades of sexual abuse, killings, human rights violations, and environmental damage while training in central Kenya. These allegations are detailed in a 94-page report released by the Parliamentary Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, following a two-year inquiry into the activities of the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (Batuk).

The report documents harrowing testimonies from residents in Laikipia and Samburu counties, near Batuk training bases, highlighting a history of misconduct that spans decades. MPs said that despite repeated complaints, British soldiers have largely evaded accountability, refusing to cooperate fully with the investigation.

Among the most shocking cases detailed in the report is that of Agnes Wanjiru, a 23-year-old Kenyan woman who disappeared in 2012 after reportedly spending an evening with British soldiers in Nanyuki, a town close to the Batuk garrison. Nearly three months later, her body was discovered in a hotel septic tank. The report notes that investigations into her death were slow and frustrated by alleged interference, leaving her family in anguish for years.

A former British soldier has since been arrested in the UK following a warrant issued for his extradition to Kenya. He denies the charges and has vowed to contest the extradition. MPs said the Wanjiru case symbolizes the broader failure of the justice system to hold foreign military personnel accountable for serious crimes committed on Kenyan soil.

The parliamentary report also highlights widespread sexual violence perpetrated by Batuk soldiers, particularly against women in the Samburu and Maasai communities. Survivors reported attacks while fetching water, gathering firewood, or tending livestock. The panel recounted a 1997 Archer’s Post incident where 30 women were allegedly gang-raped at knife-point, some inside their homes.

Additionally, the report raised concerns about children fathered by British soldiers who returned home, leaving single mothers to face social stigma and financial hardship. MPs said many cases were mishandled or dropped by local authorities, leaving victims without justice.

Other unresolved cases include the alleged shooting of herder Tilam Leresh by a Batuk sergeant in 2012. The report further highlights injuries and deaths caused by unexploded ordnance and toxic fumes, with some residents reporting miscarriages, respiratory illness, and livestock deaths linked to Batuk training exercises.

MPs criticized Batuk for failing to conduct environmental and social impact assessments, though the British side maintains that audits confirm compliance with Kenyan regulations.

The UK High Commission in Nairobi expressed regret that its submissions were not fully reflected in the report but affirmed readiness to investigate new allegations once evidence is provided. Batuk reiterated a zero-tolerance stance on sexual exploitation and abuse.

The parliamentary panel described the defence cooperation agreement between Kenya and the UK as “structurally flawed,” noting that serious offences such as murder are not explicitly covered. MPs recommended renegotiating the agreement to include:

A visiting forces code of conduct

Zero-tolerance rules for gender-based violence

Clear environmental obligations

Civilian oversight, including mechanisms for child support accountability

The report concludes that Batuk is increasingly seen by host communities as “an occupying presence rather than a development partner,” drawing parallels with colonial injustices, and calls for urgent reforms to restore trust and accountability.