UK cancels Laikipia military exercise amid public petition against BATUK

The ratification of a Defence Cooperation Agreement signed between Kenya and the United Kingdom in 2021 has stalled, with a coalition of human rights activists, victims' families, and local leaders now submitting a formal petition that sets stringent conditions for any renewed deal.

The petition, which emerged from a public meeting in Nanyuki on June 20, 2026, has been presented to Parliament, state agencies, BATUK, and the UK Ministry of Defence.

Amidst this tension, the United Kingdom has cancelled a planned military training exercise in Laikipia after the Kenyan government failed to issue the required licences, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the bilateral defence relationship.

The contentious issues of legal jurisdiction over British troops operating in Kenya and historical injustices have become the main impediment to finalising the deal.

The United Kingdom has consistently resisted proposals that would subject its military personnel to local courts, even for serious offences committed in the country.

Kenyan legislators have insisted that any new arrangement must reflect the country's constitutional sovereignty and address longstanding concerns about accountability, with the dispute now reaching the highest levels of government in both countries.

The petition outlines core demands that the coalition considers non-negotiable. These include ending the impunity enjoyed by British soldiers accused of crimes, subjecting them to Kenyan courts, and conducting full independent investigations into all historical offences including the unresolved murder of Agnes Wanjiru in 2012.

The group is also demanding immediate compensation for victims and their families, formal recognition and child support for children fathered and abandoned by British service members in the Laikipia region, and a comprehensive environmental audit of training grounds with a ban on activities that contaminate soil and water.

The petitioners insist that the final agreement be opened to public scrutiny before any deal is concluded.

The petition has attracted significant political backing. Bob Njagi, a human rights defender and presidential candidate for the 2027 elections, has underscored the ultimatum, stating that if Britain does not agree to these terms, BATUK must withdraw from Kenya.

Boniface Mwangi, leader of the Ukweli Party and also a presidential candidate for 2027, is among the signatories.

Other signatories include lawyer Kevin Kubai, who represents some of the affected families, Booker Omole of the Communist Party Marxist, and Boniface Mirikwa Wafula, a Member of the County Assembly from Trans Nzoia.

The demands are rooted in a documented history of alleged abuses linked to the British military presence dating back to Kenya's independence.

The killing of Agnes Wanjiru, whose suspected killer has not been extradited from the UK, remains a powerful symbol of the failure to deliver justice.

Local residents have repeatedly complained about environmental damage and fires caused by British military exercises, including incidents at the Lolldaiga Conservancy, alongside cases of sexual abuse and child abandonment.

Under the current framework, British soldiers are primarily subject to UK jurisdiction for acts committed on official duty, a loophole that has effectively shielded them from local prosecution.

At the height of this public opposition, the United Kingdom cancelled a planned military training exercise in Laikipia after the Kenyan government failed to issue the required licences.

The exercise, codenamed ‘Haraka Storm’ and scheduled for September to November 2026, will now be conducted at an alternative location outside Kenya.

In a statement, a UK Ministry of Defence spokesperson described the decision as regrettable and acknowledged the economic impact on communities that would have benefited from the deployment.

The development comes just weeks after the Nanyuki public meeting and the subsequent petition, which have intensified scrutiny of British military activities in the region.

The cancellation does not affect BATUK's broader presence in Kenya, but the UK has said it will continue engaging the Kenyan government to support the resumption of training in the country at the earliest opportunity.

The coalition is leveraging Parliamentary support that has emerged in recent years. In November 2025, the Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations recommended amendments to grant Kenyan courts greater jurisdiction over crimes committed by foreign troops in the country.

This recommendation was consistent with an earlier Parliamentary report that described a troubling pattern of misconduct by BATUK personnel and recommended legal changes to ensure accountability.

The government's own efforts to ratify the 2021 agreement, which was signed by both governments but never passed by Parliament, have been stalled by such concerns.

Without meaningful concessions from the British government, the coalition has made it clear that any renewed agreement will face fierce opposition.

Their demands have gained support in Parliament, where legislators who once supported the DCA with reservations are now aligning with the petitioners' position.

National Assembly Defence Committee Chair Nelson Koech has publicly backed the call for an end to immunity for British troops, reflecting a growing consensus among MPs.

With the general election approaching in August 2027, political pressure is intensifying, and the British government must now decide whether to accept the conditions laid out in the petition or risk the withdrawal of BATUK from Kenya.