NAIROBI, Kenya — A British soldier has been arrested in Kenya in connection with a rape allegation near a UK military training facility, reigniting scrutiny over the conduct of British forces stationed in the East African country.
The alleged sexual assault occurred in May near the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), located outside the central Kenyan town of Nanyuki, approximately 200 kilometers north of Nairobi. According to local reports, the incident took place following a night out involving a group of British soldiers who had visited a local bar.
The soldier was arrested and questioned after the alleged attack. The UK’s Defence Serious Crime Unit, which investigates crimes committed by British service personnel both domestically and abroad, has opened an investigation into the matter.
In a statement, the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that a British service member had been detained. “Unacceptable and criminal behaviour has absolutely no place in our Armed Forces,” the MoD said. “Any reporting of a serious crime by serving personnel is investigated independently from their chain of command.”
The incident marks the latest in a string of controversies surrounding the British military presence in Kenya, particularly at the Nanyuki-based training unit, which has been operational since 1964. British forces are allowed to train up to six battalions annually under a bilateral defense agreement between the UK and Kenya.
The new allegation comes against a backdrop of longstanding concerns about misconduct involving British soldiers in Kenya. The most high-profile case involves the 2012 death of Agnes Wanjiru, a 21-year-old Kenyan woman and mother of one, whose body was discovered in a septic tank near the BATUK facility weeks after she was last seen with British soldiers.
In 2021, The Sunday Times reported that a UK soldier was suspected of involvement in Wanjiru’s murder. The MoD has pledged cooperation with Kenyan authorities investigating that case, but no charges have yet been filed.
Kenyan lawmakers launched a public inquiry last year into alleged abuses by British troops, including a reported hit-and-run incident, accusations of abandonment of local women impregnated by British soldiers, and other claims of mistreatment. The hearings drew attention to long-simmering tensions between local communities and the foreign military presence.
The recent arrest threatens to further strain diplomatic relations between the UK and Kenya, particularly as pressure mounts on both governments to ensure accountability for crimes involving foreign military personnel. Human rights advocates in Kenya have urged British authorities to hand over any soldiers implicated in criminal offenses for prosecution under Kenyan law.
While the UK maintains legal jurisdiction over its forces under the bilateral agreement, critics argue that Kenya has struggled to obtain justice in past cases involving British personnel.
The MoD reiterated that it treats all allegations of serious misconduct with urgency and pledged transparency throughout the ongoing investigation.
As the probe unfolds, both governments face growing calls to re-evaluate the scope and oversight of the British military’s operations in Kenya, amid concerns over the protection of local communities and enforcement of international legal standards.
Source: bbc
