Gachagua claims Ruto, MPs demanded Ksh. 3 billion from UK to approve BATUK exercise

The exercise, which would see the arrival of 1500 British soldiers for training in September 2026, was cancelled after failure to obtain required approvals. 

Al Jazeera also reports that UK’s Ministry of Defence cancelled the exercise amid disagreements over defence arrangements between the two countries.

However, former Deputy President Gachagua on Sunday alleged that the disagreement stemmed from a bribery demand made by President William Ruto, through Members of Parliament in the Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations. 

“The Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations. The chairman is called Nelson Koech; he is Ruto's man. He told the British, "For us to renew the contract, we want three billion shillings. Keep one billion for yourselves and take two billion to Ruto.” Gachagua alleged. 

The DCP leader went on to claim that the MPs said the money was meant to facilitate President Ruto’s 2027 campaigns. 

“The British said, "No, we don't want that. Three billion with no receipt? No. What is it for? What work is it for?” 

The former deputy president argued that the cancellation of the contract would hurt Nanyuki town, which hosts the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK). 

“This town of Nanyuki will die. We are going to lose that town. The British have said they cannot pay a bribe to William Ruto and Nelson Koech so that they can train our soldiers in Kenya, so that they can help us in counter-terrorism, so that there can be commercial activity in Nanyuki town, around the barracks,” he said. 

While Gachagua’s claim remains unconfirmed, reports indicate that the cancellation of the training is due to a standoff on legal jurisdiction, accountability mechanisms and the rules governing the presence of British forces in Kenya.