West News Wire: The British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), one of the largest military training facilities operated by the UK outside Britain, has a longstanding bad reputation in Kenya and has been the subject of an investigation by Kenyan authorities.
The National Assembly Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee took action in response to complaints from locals, including those regarding the 2012 murder of Agnes Wanjiru in Nanyuki and the 2021 fire that destroyed the Lolldaiga Hills Ranch, both of which were linked to British soldiers.
The deputy speaker of the Laikipia County Assembly, Anthony Theuri Wambui, told news reporters that he agrees with the government’s choice.
“When Agnes Wanjiru was killed by the British army, even after the media visited this area and the case was filed, family members are still seeking justice,” he said.
Following a night of partying with soldiers, Wanjiru, 21, was allegedly killed by stabbing and dumped in a septic tank at a hotel in Nanyuki in March 2012. Her murder was committed by UK military. Her dismembered body was discovered about three months later.
The family of Wanjiru’s representative, Kairu Kamunge, maintained that justice has still not been done and that “much more would have been done” if the victim had been a British citizen.
“The UK government in no way treats Kenyans equally. In reality, it has been abusing us, he claimed.
Kamunge further claimed that the British military continued to practise using deadly chemicals.
According to local media, Kenyan environmentalists and pastoralist communities have claimed that white phosphorus has been used during military drills, posing a danger to humans, livestock, and wildlife. BATUK has denied the allegations, claiming that the chemical is only used in controlled environments during training.
Local residents told news reporters that the British army “only brought challenges” to Kenyans. “We know exactly how harmful the chemicals they have been using are. It has affected our children an
