A UK soldier accused of raping a British woman near a British army base in Kenya has been arrested and repatriated to the UK, as confirmed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The alleged victim is a British citizen, not Kenyan. The incident occurred last month close to the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (Batuk), situated approximately 200 kilometers from Nairobi.
In a statement, the MoD confirmed the arrest of the soldier in relation to a sexual offense and indicated that the ongoing investigation would be handled by the UK Defence Serious Crime Command. The inquiry falls under the Defence Co-operation Agreement between the UK and Kenya, and further comments were withheld at this stage.
This latest allegation at Batuk adds to previous accusations against British soldiers in the area, which include a notorious case from 2012 when a soldier was implicated in the murder of a local woman, Agnes Wanjiru. The UK government has claimed to collaborate with Kenyan authorities regarding that investigation.
Established in 1964 shortly after Kenya's independence, the base allows the UK military to conduct training exercises with up to six battalions each year. However, the conduct of some personnel has raised alarms, leading to a public inquiry by Kenyan MPs in the previous year. Reports have emerged detailing alleged mistreatment of local citizens, including hit-and-run incidents and claims that soldiers have left local women pregnant when returning to the UK.
These serious allegations have highlighted concerns regarding the British military’s presence in Kenya and the treatment of local populations, further complicating diplomatic ties.
