UK Admits “Regrettable” Incidents Linked to British Army in Kenya After Years of Silence

The British government has finally addressed atrocities and environmental degradation linked to the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK).

For over a decade, BATUK has operated from its base in Nanyuki, Laikipia County, under a bilateral defense agreement between Kenya and the UK. But its presence has been overshadowed by serious allegations, including rape, murder, mishandling of unexploded bombs, and environmental destruction.

Some of the most tragic incidents linked to BATUK involve the deaths of Kenyan civilians, many of them young people who had no idea about the dangers left behind after military exercises. In 2007, Robert Seurei was killed after picking up a piece of unexploded ordnance from the Eastern Laikipia training area. He thought it was a candle.

Even more disturbing is the 2012 murder of 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru, which remains unsolved. She went out with British soldiers one night and disappeared. Two months later, her body was found in a hotel septic tank.

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In a statement submitted to the National Assembly’s Defence Committee on Wednesday, the British government called past incidents involving deaths and injuries “extremely regrettable.”

“The UK Ministry of Defence deeply regrets the harm caused by certain historical incidents and recognizes the pain these events have caused to individuals, families, and communities,” the statement read. “We remain committed to addressing these matters with transparency, responsibility, and respect for Kenyan sovereignty.”

The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) said it acknowledges the trauma and frustration caused by these events, particularly in the case of Seurei, which exposed the danger posed by unexploded bombs that still lingered in areas accessible to civilians.

BATUK stopped short of taking full responsibility but noted that inquiries failed to conclusively determine where the munitions came from. Still, the unit decided to take action in the interest of community relations and public safety.

The UK MOD didn’t directly address the Wanjiru case in its communication but reaffirmed that it will cooperate with Kenyan authorities and the Defence and Foreign Relations Committee (DIFRC) to resolve “outstanding concerns.”

“The UK MOD is aware that, in September 2025, the Kenyan Director of Public Prosecutions determined that a British National should face trial in relation to the unlawful killing of Agnes Wanjiru,” it said.

“The UK MOD will continue to support Kenyan authorities as appropriate.”

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Following the unexploded bomb incidents, the UK MOD confirmed it has paid compensation to the affected families. The MOD reached a financial settlement with Seurei’s family in 2010.

The MOD says these actions demonstrate its commitment to maintaining goodwill and upholding its responsibilities under the Defence Cooperation Agreement.

The UK also acknowledged incidents of sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA) involving British Army personnel in Kenya. Despite its strict zero-tolerance policy, the MOD admits that transactional sex still occurs at a “low to moderate” level.

“There is absolutely no place for sexual exploitation and abuse by people in the British Army,” the MOD stated, calling such behaviour “at complete odds with what it means to be a British soldier.”

Following a 2025 inquiry (SI Sennen), the MOD reported that SEA cases have dropped significantly since it introduced the Defence SEA policy in July 2022. Out of 7,666 troops deployed, commanders reported nine incidents after the policy took effect.

To prevent future abuse, the UK has kept curfews, movement restrictions, military police oversight, and command-led training in place. New measures include appointing accountability officers at social events and imposing harsher penalties on offenders.

BATUK personnel also have to adhere to Kenyan as well as UK law, and the Kenya Police have even stationed a liaison officer at the base.

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