Laikipia Outlaws Not Using Our Weapons - British Envoy

British High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriott
British High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriott
gov.uk

An official from the United Kingdom (UK) on Thursday, September 9, refuted claims that weapons from the British army are being used by outlaws in the ongoing skirmishes in Laikipia County.

The British High Commission in Kenya, Jane Marriott took to Twitter to refute the claims, stating that no weapons from the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) are used in the conflict.

“We are certain there are no BATUK weapons circulating in Kenya. We do a 100% daily quantity check, and a 100% weekly check by individual serial number, and none are missing,” the British High Commission tweeted.

The UK High Commission further clarified that British soldiers training in Kenya don't use M16 rifles.

“Units exercising with BATUK do not use M16 rifles,” the High Commission stated.

An image of pastoralists
A young pastoralist carrying a loaded AK-47.

Amedia Agency

The commission was responding to a tweet by British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) journalist, Ferdinant Omondi, who asked the envoy for a statement from her government in regard to the weapons used by bandits in the skirmishes.

“Rift Valley Regional Commissioner George Natembeya is suggesting that the outlaws in Laikipia have M16 rifles, usually used by foreign forces who train in the area,” Omondi tweeted.

“Is he suggesting BATUK official arms found their way into their hands? How?” he asked.

These sentiments come after Rift Valley Regional Commander George Natembeya’s statements on the ongoing skirmishes in the area.

In his address to the press on Tuesday, September 6, Natembeya stated that the bandits were using advanced weapons, only used by foreign soldiers.

"While our officers are using AK47 and G3 rifles, the bandits are using M16s and other heavy machinery, which are usually used by foreign armies, who come for training in Kenya. We don't know how they get these heavy weapons," Ntembeya stated. 

Leaders from the region have decried the state of security in Laikipia stating that the bandits are using advanced weaponry. 

The British soldiers have their training unit based in Nanyuki, Laikipia County.

A photo of George Natembeya addresses journalists on destruction in the Mau Forest Complex in his office in Nakuru on September 13, 2019.
George Natembeya addresses journalists on destruction in the Mau Forest Complex in his office in Nakuru on September 13, 2019.
Daily Nation

 

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