The British Army has vowed to enact sweeping reforms after a recent inquiry exposed misconduct among some of its soldiers stationed in Kenya.
In a statement, the UK’s Chief of the General Staff General Sir Roly Walker condemned conduct of some of British soldiers in Nanyuki after it emerged that some of them were still engaging in transactional sex with Kenyan women despite a formal ban.
“There is absolutely no place for sexual exploitation and abuse by people in the British Army. It is at complete odds with what it means to be a British soldier,” he said.
The remarks followed the release of a Service Inquiry report, commissioned in October 2024, which examined the conduct of troops at the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk) from July 2022 onwards.
As per the inquiry, it was revealed that while the level of transactional relations between the soldiers and local women were asessed as "low to moderate", such conduct still persisted, which was a contravention of the UK millitary policy introduced in 2022 to prevent sexual exploitation abroad.
While acknowledging the findings, General Walker emphasised that the army had a greater responsibility, saying, "Transactional sex is still happening in Kenya at a low to moderate level. It should not be happening at all.”
Walker announced a full implementation of the report's recommendations, including stronger disciplinary powers which would entail dismissal of soldiers found engaging in transactional intercourse.
Also among the recommendations is a new targeted training to reinforce duty on all personnel to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse.
“The report also sets out a number of areas where we’ve already taken action, which will help tackle sexual exploitation and make Kenyan women safer,” Walker added in his statement.
The inquiry followed a 2024 exposé which highlighted the conduct of soldiers at Batuk amid allegations of British personnel paying local women for 'services'.
Notably, the Nanyuki base has been subject to controversy over the past decade with one of the more sensational cases involving the unresolved death of Kenyan woman Agnes Wanjiru, who was allegedly killed by a British soldier.
Parliament has also raised concerns about the Batuk base in recent times, particularly relating to injuries to civilians and abandonment of children fathered by soldiers among other alleged abuses.
Interestingly, despite the serious findings, a report noted that a majority of local residents supported the presence of the training camp in Nanyuki.
In his statement, General Walker reaffirmed the Army's long-term commitment to curbing sexual exploitation. "We will continue to listen, step up, and take action when we need to—including working with the other Services to learn lessons and share best practice across Defence," he said.
