United Kingdom Minister for Armed Forces James Heappey hinted at a change of tact in how British troops battle terrorism in Kenya and its neighbouring countries.
In an interview on Saturday, November 26, with NTV's Ngina Kirori, the Minister noted that the new strategy included training the Kenyan troops to battle the terror threats.
He admitted that an earlier strategy, which included the troops coming to African countries and battling terrorism by themselves, was not very effective.
"We have realised that often we make things worse by trying to come to a country and sought it out for ourselves.
"So the way to do it is to give the training that is needed to successfully prosecute counter-terror campaigns. That is the base military base military training that our armies do together," stated Heappey.
In 2021, the UK Government and its Kenyan counterpart signed the Defence Cooperation Agreement enable the two countries to enhance coordination in their joint efforts to improve regional security in East Africa.
The five-year agreement was aimed at enhancing the training of local troops and boost security including the fight against Islamist terrorist group Al-Shabaab.
Heappey, however, noted that the agreement was ratified in the UK Parliament but continued to face hurdles in Kenya.
"The Defence Cooperation Agreement is a legal basis that allows the UK to train in and with the Kenyan forces and it sets out all the mechanisms that we pay for that training and the legal basis on which we use land.
"It was ratified in the UK Parliament. In the Kenyan Parliament, we were not able to get it ratified in the last Parliament. My understanding is that it is being brought back to Parliament," he added.
So far, more than 1,100 British military soldiers live and train in various camps in Kenya.
During the interview, the Minister also disclosed that investigations into the murder of Agnes Wanjiru, reportedly by a British soldier, were still in the works.
He explained that soldiers in the UK were ready to take part in interviewing witnesses and hasten compensation to her family.
"The interview arrangements are still very much in place. There is no doubt about it. Both the UK military and civilian police forces will be very happy to be a part of investigation and interview witnesses on behalf of the Kenya Police.
"The suggestion was that compensation should be paid to her family immediately. I think that most people would recognise that until it is investigated and proven in a court of law, it is premature to be talking about those sorts of things," he noted.
Wanjiru's body was recovered in 2012 with stab wounds two months after she was reported missing.
