A UK soldier has been detained following accusations of raping a British woman near a contentious British army base in Kenya, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) has confirmed. According to the military's statement, the individual was arrested after the alleged incident last month near the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK), located around 200 kilometers north of Nairobi.
The MoD elaborated that the victim is a British national, clarifying that the case does not involve local Kenyan authorities but falls under the jurisdiction of the UK military. The soldier has been sent back to the UK as part of the process, and an investigation by the UK Defence Serious Crime Command is underway, in compliance with the Defence Co-operation Agreement between the UK and Kenya.
This incident adds to the list of serious allegations against British army personnel stationed at BATUK. Notable cases include the 2012 murder of local woman Agnes Wanjiru, whose remains were discovered in a septic tank, which has sparked ongoing investigations and claims of a cover-up.
The BATUK base, established in 1964 shortly after Kenya's independence, serves as a training ground for up to six British army battalions each year. However, the history of misconduct allegations has led to increased scrutiny of the actions of British soldiers on Kenyan soil. A recent public inquiry by Kenyan lawmakers highlighted a range of grievances, including accusations of mistreatment, hit-and-run incidents, and abandonment of local women by British soldiers who had fathered children with them before their return to the UK.
Amid these rising concerns, UK authorities have expressed commitment to cooperating with local investigations to ensure accountability and address the long-standing issues at BATUK.
