By Valentine Omondi
Kenya and the United Kingdom have agreed to resume British military training in the country after resolving a standoff over the renewal of a bilateral defence cooperation agreement that had temporarily halted planned exercises.
The breakthrough preserves a decades-long military partnership between the two countries, following negotiations aimed at addressing concerns raised by Kenyan lawmakers over accountability and the conduct of British troops stationed under the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK).
Welcoming the agreement, Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said the renewed partnership reflects the strong ties between Nairobi and London.
“The partnership has been built over decades on mutual respect, constructive engagement, and a shared commitment to peace and security,” Mudavadi said.
The United Kingdom also welcomed the agreement, saying Kenya had issued the necessary approvals for military exercises to resume. In a statement, the UK government said it “highly values its relationship with Kenya, which is underpinned by mutual benefit, respect and cooperation.”
The resumption of training comes days after uncertainty over the future of the programme, with reports indicating that planned exercises had been suspended pending the renewal of the Defence Cooperation Agreement. The delay sparked speculation that Britain could relocate some of its military training activities to neighbouring Tanzania, although Kenyan authorities later confirmed that discussions between the two governments were ongoing.
Britain maintains approximately 200 military personnel in Kenya through BATUK and trains thousands of Kenyan and British troops each year. The partnership has also supported counter-terrorism operations and regional security efforts, particularly in the fight against the Somalia-based militant group al-Shabaab.
Despite its strategic importance, the defence partnership has faced growing public and political scrutiny in recent years.
One of the most contentious issues remains the 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru, a Kenyan woman whose body was found in a septic tank in Nanyuki after she was reportedly last seen with British soldiers. The case has drawn repeated calls for justice from Kenyan leaders and Wanjiru’s family.
The partnership also came under criticism following the 2021 Lolldaiga Conservancy wildfire, which was accidentally started during a British military exercise and destroyed thousands of acres of vegetation, raising concerns over environmental accountability.
The renewed agreement is expected to allow military training to continue while providing both governments with an opportunity to strengthen cooperation on accountability, environmental protection, and community relations around BATUK operations.
The Kenya-UK defence partnership remains one of Britain’s largest military training arrangements in Africa and continues to play a significant role in enhancing regional security cooperation between the two countries.
