A committee in Kenya's parliament has released a strong report about the British Army's long-term presence in the country. The report says UK soldiers have done very bad things, including sexual violence, killings, and harming the environment. It says the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk) acts without punishment and blocks justice. This is causing serious problems for a defense relationship that started when Kenya became independent.
The report focused on areas where the British soldiers train. For many years, people said this partnership helped both countries. But the committee's findings tell a different story. They say the partnership has hurt local people.
The report lists many serious claims from over the years. These include rape, soldiers leaving behind their children, and deaths from road accidents or illegal killings. One famous case is the murder of a woman named Agnes Wanjiru in 2012. The report says Batuk blocked the investigation into her death. It also says the unit damaged the local environment.
Batuk did not cooperate with the inquiry, using legal immunity. The committee says this shows a pattern of not being open or responsible. This leaves victims with no help. The UK government in Nairobi says it is ready to investigate the claims if evidence is provided.
The committee now says many Kenyans see Batuk as an occupying force, not a partner. This is a big problem for both governments. Kenya may want to change the defense agreement to get more accountability. For the UK, these claims damage an important relationship and its values. Moving forward, both countries must work together openly to fix these problems.