UK Slams Kenyan MPs Over Damning BATUK Report
The United Kingdom has retaliated against Kenya’s Members of Parliament following the publication of a damning parliamentary report.
The report asserts that decades of abuse, deaths, and human rights crimes occurred at the British Army Training Unit, Kenya (BATUK).
In a statement issued on Wednesday, December 3, the British High Commission in Nairobi accused legislators of failing to consider their comments to the inquiry before releasing their findings.
The commission stated that it completely cooperated with the parliamentary inquiry, offering a detailed submission that addressed all of the parliamentarians’ concerns.
While admitting the historical issues linked with the UK’s military presence in Kenya, it criticized the report for purportedly missing the commission’s response.
“In the spirit of cooperation with the inquiry, the UK submitted a statement responding substantively to the issues highlighted and outlined the actions taken to address the concerns raised,” a statement from the commission read.
Our statement on the 🇰🇪 Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee’s inquiry into BATUK ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/FHLh0ryyeJ
— UK in Kenya 🇬🇧🇰🇪 (@UKinKenya) December 3, 2025
“While we deeply regret the challenges which have arisen in relation to our defence presence in Kenya, we are disappointed our submission to the Committee was not incorporated into the report’s conclusions.”
British officials also indicated that they had responded to the issues raised and had documented previous efforts taken to address longstanding grievances affecting Kenyan communities, particularly in Laikipia and Samburu.
According to the UK, some of the charges in the report were fresh, and it was ready to investigate any claim whenever evidence was supplied.
Last week, the National Assembly Committee on Defense, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations issued a 94-page report accusing BATUK of ongoing ethical violations and human rights violations.
Kenyan Parliament Uncovers 'Disturbing Trend' By British Troops#AfricasNow https://t.co/e9ZPBhxU0k
— AfricasNow (@AfricasNow24) December 3, 2025
The parliamentary panel received oral and written testimonies from civilians, victims, community leaders, official agencies, and civil groups.
Several witnesses accused British soldiers of murder, assault, maiming, and road accidents that resulted in fatalities.
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One of the most distressing disclosures in the investigation was the 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru, whose body was discovered in a hotel sewage tank in Nanyuki.
A former British soldier accused of involvement in the murders was arrested in the UK last month, although he has rejected the charges and is fighting extradition.
He risks probable extradition to Kenya.
BATUK has been a cornerstone of UK-Kenya defence cooperation, with over 1,000 Kenyan soldiers getting British training each year.
UK Slams Kenyan MPs Over Damning BATUK Report
