A British soldier has been arrested in Kenya following a serious rape allegation that has once again drawn attention to the conduct of UK troops stationed abroad. The incident reportedly occurred last month near the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk) base in Nanyuki, a town roughly 200 kilometres north of Nairobi. According to local sources, the alleged assault took place after a group of British soldiers visited a nearby bar.
Kenyan authorities detained the soldier and questioned him as part of an ongoing investigation. The UK’s Defence Serious Crime Unit now handles the case, as it specialises in probing offences involving British military personnel both at home and overseas. The arrest has reignited public concern in Kenya, especially given the base’s controversial past, which includes unresolved accusations of violent crimes, mistreatment of locals, and abuse of power by some stationed troops.
Investigation Underway by UK Defence Crime Unit
Authorities confirmed that they took the soldier into custody and questioned him in connection with the alleged crime. The UK’s Defence Serious Crime Unit now leads the investigation, as it handles allegations against British military personnel both in the UK and abroad.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) stated the arrest, saying: “Unacceptable and criminal behaviour has absolutely no place in our Armed Forces and any reporting of a serious crime by serving personnel is investigated independently from their chain of command.”
This latest incident adds to a growing list of serious allegations involving British soldiers stationed in Kenya. The Batuk base has been controversial for years, especially after the unsolved murder case of Agnes Wanjiru in 2012.
Past Controversies and Ongoing Scrutiny
British soldiers last saw Wanjiru, who was just 21, before she disappeared. Authorities eventually found her three weeks later in a septic tank near the Batuk camp. In 2021, reports identified a British soldier as the suspect in her murder. The MoD has since confirmed it is cooperating with ongoing Kenyan investigations into the case.
The British established this base in 1964 after Kenya gained independence and now station soldiers there for training purposes. In 2023, investigators uncovered multiple instances of misconduct, including hit-and-run incidents involving army vehicles and claims that British soldiers fathered children with local women and later abandoned them.
The pressure is now on British and Kenyan authorities to take accountability and provide justice.
