Kenyan MPs Accuse British Military of Sexual Abuse
Last update: December 3, 2025
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Report details killings, sexual violence, environmental harm and lack of accountability by British troops stationed in Kenya.
Kenya’s parliament has accused British soldiers of decades of sexual abuse, killings, human rights violations and environmental destruction while training in the country.
A 94-page report by the parliamentary Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations, following a two-year inquiry, drew on testimony from communities in Laikipia and Samburu counties near British Army Training Unit in Kenya bases.
It cited cases of killings, assaults, sexual violence, public indecency, abandoned children, and environmental damage allegedly linked to the soldiers.
The report said Batuk soldiers repeatedly evaded accountability by refusing to cooperate with the investigation.
Victims and witnesses described gang rapes, attacks on women collecting water or grazing livestock, and unresolved killings including the 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru and the shooting of herder Tilam Leresh.
Many sexual violence cases were allegedly dropped or mishandled by local authorities.
The panel also raised concerns over environmental harm, including respiratory illnesses, miscarriages, livestock deaths, and injuries from unexploded ordnance.
MPs criticised Batuk for failing to conduct legally required environmental assessments and suggested the possible use of hazardous materials such as white phosphorus.
Batuk and the UK defence ministry said they have zero tolerance for sexual exploitation, have taken measures to address concerns, and are willing to investigate new allegations. The UK High Commission said it regretted that its input was not fully reflected in the report.
The parliamentary committee highlighted structural flaws in the Kenya-UK defence agreement, noting gaps that hinder accountability for crimes committed by visiting forces.
It recommended amending the agreement to include a code of conduct, zero tolerance for gender-based violence, environmental obligations, civilian oversight, and mechanisms to hold Batuk soldiers accountable for child support.
