A bombshell parliamentary report has accused British soldiers of a disturbing and decades-long pattern of sexual abuse, human rights violations, and environmental damage in communities around their Nanyuki base.

The findings by Kenya's National Assembly Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations escalate tensions over the long-standing British military presence, placing the future of the UK-Kenya defence pact under intense scrutiny and fueling demands for accountability.

The inquiry, chaired by Belgut MP Nelson Koech, collected harrowing testimony during public hearings in Laikipia and Samburu counties. It paints a grim picture of an occupying force rather than a partner, concluding that the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (Batuk) has fostered a culture of impunity.

A Wall of Silence

A central finding of the report is the persistent non-cooperation from Batuk command, which repeatedly declined to appear before the committee, invoking diplomatic immunity. This refusal was branded by the committee as “institutional contempt” for Kenya's sovereignty. The report alleges that this resistance is part of a broader pattern to shield soldiers from justice.

Key allegations outlined in the report include:

• Sexual Violence: A “disturbing trend” of rape, sexual assault, and the abandonment of children fathered by soldiers. Survivors reported that their cases were often dropped or mishandled by local authorities, denying them justice.
• Killings and Assaults: The report highlights the notorious 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru, a 21-year-old mother whose body was found in a septic tank after she was last seen with British soldiers. It also cites the killing of local herder Tilam Leresh.
• Environmental Damage: Batuk is accused of gross negligence, including causing a fire in 2021 that destroyed over 10,000 acres of the Lolldaiga Conservancy and failing to clear unexploded ordnance that has killed and maimed civilians.

Justice Denied, Wounds Fester

For many Kenyans in Laikipia and Samburu, the report validates decades of grievances. The case of Agnes Wanjiru has become a symbol of the fight for justice. While a former British soldier was arrested in the UK in late 2025 in connection with her murder, progress has been painfully slow, a delay the committee attributed to “undue interference and obstruction” allegedly by Batuk personnel.

The economic relationship is complex. Batuk is a major employer in Nanyuki, contributing an estimated KES 5.8 billion to the local economy since 2016. However, local leaders, including Laikipia's governor, have argued that economic benefits cannot be used to cover up murder and oppression. The committee has recommended a thorough review of the Defence Cooperation Agreement, which was renewed in 2021, to close accountability gaps and ensure civilian oversight.

In response, the British High Commission expressed disappointment that its own detailed submission to the committee was not incorporated into the final report, but stated it stands ready to investigate any new allegations. With the report now public, the spotlight is on both Nairobi and London to see if this painful chapter will finally lead to justice for Kenyan victims.