- A UK soldier accused of raping a woman near the British Army base in Nanyuki has been flown back to Britain.
- The incident reportedly happened after British soldiers visited a local bar in the town.
- The UK’s Ministry of Defence confirmed the arrest and said the case is under serious investigation.
- Past scandals, including the unsolved case of Agnes Wanjiru, continue to raise questions over the British military’s conduct in Kenya.
- The case has reignited public debate on whether British troops should still be hosted in the country.
A British serviceman who is being accused of sexually assaulting a Kenyan woman in Nanyuki has been taken back to the United Kingdom as investigations continue. The alleged incident happened last month near the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk), situated in Laikipia County, around 200km north of Nairobi.
Bar Visit Reportedly Preceded Incident
Reports indicate that the accused was among a group of British soldiers who had gone out for drinks in Nanyuki town before the alleged rape occurred. UK military officials arrested the suspect shortly after and took charge of the case, choosing to fly him out for further investigations back home.
MoD Responds with Strong Message
The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) released a statement confirming that one of its service members had been detained in Kenya.
“Unacceptable and criminal behaviour has absolutely no place in our Armed Forces,” the statement read.
The Ministry added that such cases are investigated by the Defence Serious Crime Unit, a special division of UK military police that handles high-profile crimes committed by personnel both in and out of Britain.
Old Wounds Reopened by Fresh Claims
This latest case adds to a long list of grievances tied to the British army’s presence in Kenya. One of the most disturbing cases remains the 2012 death of Agnes Wanjiru. Her body was discovered dumped in a septic tank not far from the Batuk base. She had last been seen partying with British soldiers.
In 2021, The Sunday Times released an explosive report suggesting a British soldier was directly involved in Wanjiru’s murder. Despite growing pressure, her case remains unresolved more than ten years later.
Concerns Over Troop Behaviour and Oversight
While Batuk has operated in Kenya since 1964, the behaviour of its soldiers has often come under fire. A 2023 Kenyan parliamentary probe revealed alarming testimonies, including paternity neglect, reckless conduct like hit-and-run incidents, and claims that local women were abandoned after relationships with soldiers ended.
Public Pressure Mounts
With fresh allegations surfacing and past wounds yet to heal, there’s increasing public pushback on Kenya’s continued hosting of foreign troops. Many are now questioning the systems in place to ensure justice when crimes involve foreign military personnel.
Whether this case leads to accountability or fades into silence like others before it remains to be seen.
