UK Army Chief admits historical abuse in Kenya, but offers no accountability plan

General Sir Roly Walker, Chief of the General Staff of the British Army, has acknowledged that British soldiers stationed in Kenya have previously harmed local communities through abuse, loss of life, and environmental damage, but stopped short of outlining concrete accountability measures.

Speaking during a visit to the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) in Nanyuki on March 19, 2026, Walker said the UK military takes allegations of misconduct seriously.

However, he emphasized the importance of maintaining the long-standing defence partnership between the UK and Kenya.

“I recognize there are historical cases where we have let people down, where individuals have been abused or harmed, where lives have been lost, and where the environment has been damaged. We take these allegations and events very seriously,” he said.

Walker’s remarks come at a sensitive time, with the UK-Kenya Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) set for renegotiation in mid-2026.

The timing has raised concerns among Kenyan lawmakers and observers, particularly following fresh allegations from three women in Nanyuki who recently came forward with claims of abuse involving British soldiers.

Critics argue that while the British Army has acknowledged past wrongdoing, it has not proposed mechanisms to prevent recurrence or ensure justice for victims.

A 2025 report by Kenya’s parliamentary Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations documented serious allegations linked to BATUK operations, including sexual assault, deaths caused by unexploded ordnance, and environmental degradation.

The committee concluded that the incidents demonstrated disregard for Kenya’s laws and sovereignty.

Under the current DCA framework, the UK retains primary jurisdiction over offences committed by its personnel while on duty, limiting the ability of Kenyan courts to prosecute such cases.

Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan Abdi, a member of the committee, has criticized Kenyan state institutions for failing to act on the report’s recommendations months after its release.

He noted that key agencies, including the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), have yet to provide updates on investigations or implement reforms.

MP Yusuf warned that continued inaction risks eroding public trust and reinforcing a pattern where serious allegations lead to reports but little tangible follow-through.

“I have little reason to be satisfied with how state bodies are handling the issue of the British Army Training Unit Kenya. It has been four months since a Parliamentary Committee’s report came out with damning allegations and binding recommendations, and the response from key institutions has been marked more by silence and limited transparency than by decisive action,” he said.

“What has changed, however, is the level of public scrutiny. The Committee’s findings have drawn greater attention to BATUK’s operations and raised expectations for accountability. But without visible follow-through by state bodies, that momentum risks fading, reinforcing a broader pattern where serious allegations generate official reports but limited concrete action.”

The emergence of new abuse claims in March has intensified scrutiny on both governments and strengthened calls for reform ahead of the DCA renegotiation.

Lawmakers are pushing for Kenyan courts to have jurisdiction over crimes committed on Kenyan soil by foreign troops, alongside proposals for victim compensation, legal aid, and stricter oversight of military activities.

However, MP Yusuf expressed doubt that the UK would accept such changes, noting that similar reform efforts in 2021 failed after Britain rejected amendments removing legal immunity for its soldiers.

As diplomatic engagements between Kenya and the UK continue ahead of the DCA renewal, the debate is increasingly shifting toward issues of sovereignty, accountability, and equality in defence partnerships.

While General Walker’s statement acknowledged past harm, critics maintain that without binding legal reforms, such admissions carry little weight for affected communities seeking justice.