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The Kenyan Parliament has made serious claims regarding members of the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK), stating that soldiers have, over many years, engaged in sexual misconduct, killings, violations of human rights, and harm to the environment during their activities in central Kenya.

The allegations are outlined in a 94-page document from the Parliamentary Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations, after a two-year investigation that examined statements from impacted communities and analyzed the Kenya–UK defense cooperation system.

As per the report, people from Laikipia and Samburu counties described a series of abuses linked to British soldiers, with women from the Samburu and Maasai groups reportedly facing greater harm. Members of parliament condemned local officials for poorly managing complaints from those who were affected, resulting in prolonged denial of justice and unresolved issues — such as the well-known 2012 death of Agnes Wanjiru and the fatal shooting of herder Tilam Leresh.

The committee also expressed worries about environmental effects associated with military drills, pointing to insufficient environmental evaluations and accounts of health issues in surrounding areas. Lawmakers referred to the Kenya–UK defense agreement as defective, especially due to the absence of well-defined accountability systems for major offenses.

The committee proposed the creation of a rigorous code of behavior for visiting military personnel, the implementation of strict policies to eliminate gender-based violence, enhanced environmental responsibilities, and official procedures to handle issues related to paternity and child support involving British troops. It also called on the government to revise parts of the bilateral agreement to more effectively protect the rights and welfare of Kenyan people.

BATUK, which has been active in Kenya for many years, has defended its track record, stating that it carries out independent environmental assessments, adheres to Kenyan regulations, and upholds a strict no-tolerance policy towards any type of exploitation or mistreatment.

The British High Commission in Kenya voiced its dissatisfaction that its contributions were not entirely included in the final document, while emphasizing its openness to examine any fresh claims presented along with proof.

The post Members of the Kenyan parliament allege that British troops have committed acts of abuse and caused environmental damage over several decades. appeared first on The Herald ghana.

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