Latest news with #BritishArmyTrainingUnitKenya
Euronews
3 days ago
- Euronews
British troops stationed in Kenya found paying for sex despite ban
British soldiers at a base in Kenya are continuing to pay for sex despite a ban that was intended to stamp out sexual exploitation across the military, an investigation has found. An inquiry was commissioned by the British Army last year following allegations that some of its troops stationed at a training site near the central Kenyan town of Nanyuki were using sex workers, as well as claims of serious abuses including rape. In 2022, the UK's defence ministry announced that it was banning "all sexual activity which involves the abuse of power, including buying sex whilst abroad". However, the report published this week found that soldiers at the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) were still engaging in transactional sex at a "low to moderate level". UK Chief of General Staff Roly Walker, who commissioned the inquiry, said there was "absolutely no place for sexual exploitation and abuse by people in the British Army". "The findings of the inquiry I commissioned conclude that transactional sex is still happening in Kenya at a low to moderate level. It should not be happening at all," he said in a statement. The army was implementing new measures to stop sexual exploitation and abuse, including making it easier to discharge soldiers who engage in transactional sex and introducing a new obligatory training programme on the issue, Walker said. A UK-Kenya defence cooperation agreement allows thousands of British soldiers to train in the East African country each year. The British Army's inquiry focused on a period between October 2022 and March this year, during which time some 7,666 of its personnel served in Kenya. There were 35 instances where transactional sex was suspected to have taken place. Of those cases, 26 happened before training on the ban on using sex workers was given across the British Army in November 2022. Nine instances were reported since then. In June, a British soldier stationed at BATUK was sent back to the UK after being accused of raping a woman near the site, according to media reports. A defence ministry spokesperson confirmed at the time that a "service person" had been arrested in Kenya and was under investigation, but did not provide further details. There have long been concerns about the way British forces treat local residents in Nanyuki. The most high-profile case involves the murder of 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru in 2012. She was last seen alive leaving a bar with British troops near their training camp, with her body later found in a septic tank. An inquest in 2019 concluded that Wanjiru was murdered by British soldiers but no suspect has been charged. In April this year, Kenyan police said a file had been passed to the country's director of public prosecutions for a charging decision. This coincided with a visit to the country by UK Defence Secretary John Healey, who met with Wanjiru's family and discussed the case with Kenyan President William Ruto. In 2021, the then-head of the British Army, General Mark Carleton-Smith, said he was "appalled" by allegations surrounding the murder of Wanjiru.
Scottish Sun
08-06-2025
- Scottish Sun
British ‘service person' arrested on suspicion of ‘raping' woman near army training camp in Kenya
A UK-Kenya defence cooperation agreement allows thousands of Brit soldiers to train in Kenya every year ARMY 'RAPE' British 'service person' arrested on suspicion of 'raping' woman near army training camp in Kenya Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A BRITISH "service person" has reportedly been arrested on suspicion of raping a woman near an army training camp in Kenya. The alleged rape happened last month, with the man arrested after a group of soldiers visited a bar in the area near the town of Nanyuki, BBC reports. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The incident occurred close to the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk) 2 A Brit 'service person' has reportedly been arrested on suspicion of raping a woman near an army training camp in Kenya Credit: Getty Military cops have questioned the bar owner and security guards who were working the night of the incident that occurred close to the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk), The Sunday Times reports. According to the paper, the bar owner said: "They [soldiers] like this place and when I meet some of them in the supermarkets, they tell me they have been banned from coming here. "Sometimes they get too drunk and I drop them at the gate for free." An investigation is being carried out by the UK military police from the Defence Serious Crime Unit. read more news HOLIDAY TRAGEDY Brit tourist, 21, found dead on street in popular Algarve resort The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed in a statement that a "service person" had been arrested in Kenya. A MoD spokesperson said in a statement: "We can confirm the arrest of a Service person in Kenya. "As the matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Defence Serious Crime Command, we will not comment further." A UK-Kenya defence cooperation agreement allows thousands of Brit soldiers to train in the East African country every year. About 200 UK troops are based there permanently to train Kenyan soldiers. Some Kenyan people have complained for a long time about the soldiers behaviour alongside the atmosphere around their training camp near the town of Nanyuki. There was an outcry over the 2012 death of 21-year-old Agnes Wanjiru, who was last seen alive leaving a bar with British troops near their training camp. Bloodcurdling moment ruthless soldier cocks his gun & presses it against woman's temple during restaurant brawl Her body was tragically later found in a septic tank. Wanjirus family has campaigned for years for the suspected perpetrator, a serving British soldier at the time, to be charged. In April, UK Defense Secretary John Healey met with Wanjirus grieving family in Kenya and vowed to help the family secure the justice they deserve. The British Army has launched an inquiry into allegations of unacceptable behavior by UK personnel in Kenya. The MoD said in a statement that all British personnel in the country "have clear direction about how to behave, on and off duty, must complete mandatory training and attend compulsory briefings on conduct." It added: "We will have zero tolerance for unacceptable behaviour."
The Irish Sun
08-06-2025
- The Irish Sun
British ‘service person' arrested on suspicion of ‘raping' woman near army training camp in Kenya
A BRITISH "service person" has reportedly been arrested on suspicion of raping a woman near an army training camp in Kenya. The alleged rape happened last month, with the man arrested after a group of soldiers visited a bar in the area near the town of Nanyuki, 2 The incident occurred close to the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk) 2 A Brit 'service person' has reportedly been arrested on suspicion of raping a woman near an army training camp in Kenya Credit: Getty Military cops have questioned the bar owner and security guards who were working the night of the incident that occurred close to the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk), According to the paper, the bar owner said: "They [soldiers] like this place and when I meet some of them in the supermarkets, they tell me they have been banned from coming here. "Sometimes they get too drunk and I drop them at the gate for free." An investigation is being carried out by the UK military police from the Defence Serious Crime Unit. read more news The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed in a statement that a "service person" had been arrested in Kenya. A MoD spokesperson said in a statement: "We can confirm the arrest of a Service person in Kenya. "As the matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Defence Serious Crime Command, we will not comment further." A UK-Kenya defence cooperation agreement allows thousands of Brit soldiers to train in the East African country every year. Most read in The Sun About 200 UK troops are based there permanently to train Kenyan soldiers. Some Kenyan people have complained for a long time about the soldiers behaviour alongside the atmosphere around their training camp near the town of Nanyuki. There was an outcry over the 2012 death of Bloodcurdling moment ruthless soldier cocks his gun & presses it against woman's temple during restaurant brawl Her body was tragically later found in a septic tank. Wanjirus family has campaigned for years for the suspected perpetrator, a serving British soldier at the time, to be charged. In April, UK Defense Secretary The British Army has launched an inquiry into allegations of unacceptable behavior by UK personnel in Kenya. The MoD said in a statement that all British personnel in the country "have clear direction about how to behave, on and off duty, must complete mandatory training and attend compulsory briefings on conduct." It added: "We will have zero tolerance for unacceptable behaviour."
