Faith Nyasuguta
A British soldier accused of raping a woman near the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (Batuk) has been flown back to the UK, as UK military police continue investigations. The alleged assault occurred last month near Nanyuki, a town roughly 200km north of Nairobi, following a night out involving several soldiers.
The suspect was arrested and questioned in Kenya before being sent back to the UK. According to the BBC, the investigation is now under the Defence Serious Crime Unit, which handles allegations involving British service members both at home and abroad.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the arrest, stating, “Unacceptable and criminal behaviour has absolutely no place in our Armed Forces.” The ministry added that any reports of serious crimes involving personnel are independently investigated, outside the soldier’s chain of command.
This case has sparked renewed scrutiny of the Batuk camp, which has been the subject of controversy for years. The rape allegation comes on the heels of previous claims involving British soldiers and serious offenses in Kenya. The most notorious case dates back to 2012, when Agnes Wanjiru, a 21-year-old mother, was found dead in a septic tank near the Batuk base. Her body was discovered weeks after she was reportedly seen with British soldiers.
A 2021 report by The Sunday Times alleged that a British soldier was suspected of Wanjiru’s murder. The MoD has since pledged to cooperate fully with the ongoing Kenyan investigation into her death.
Established in 1964, shortly after Kenya gained independence from Britain, Batuk allows the UK military to deploy up to six battalions annually for training exercises in Kenya. While the military base plays a strategic role in UK operations, it has also become a flashpoint for complaints from local communities.
Last year, Kenyan lawmakers launched a public inquiry into alleged abuses by British soldiers. Testimonies included accusations of hit-and-run incidents, mistreatment of locals, and reports that some soldiers impregnated Kenyan women and abandoned them and their children upon returning home.
The latest rape allegation risks deepening tensions and renewing calls for greater accountability from the UK military presence in Kenya. Kenyan civil society groups are demanding transparency and justice, urging both governments to treat the case with the seriousness it deserves.
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