British Army Training Unit Kenya

The British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) is a training support unit of the British Army located in Kenya under long-standing cooperative agreements with Kenya.

Current status

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) maintains a longstanding Defence Cooperation Agreement with the Kenyan Government whereby up to six British infantry battalions (10,000 service personnel) per year may carry out four-week exercises on Kenya Ministry of Defence land at Archer's Post and in Laikipia County.[1] The hot conditions and rugged terrain are unavailable in the UK and present an opportunity for British soldiers to improve their skills through training.

The exercises are run by BATUK from its base at Nyati Barracks in Nanyuki, 200 km north of the capital. In addition three Royal Engineers squadrons carry out civil engineering projects, while two medical company group deployments provide primary health care assistance to the civilian community. Britain offers training opportunities in the UK to the Kenyan military and conducts joint exercises with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF). It also supports Kenya's struggle against Al Shabaab, including the deployment of British personnel to Somalia to provide the KDF with logistical support and contributions towards anti-terrorism training for the Kenya Police and border guards.

Diplomatic Dispute

British Army training in Kenya became part of a broader series of diplomatic disputes between the UK and Kenya between 2013 and 2015. While the Defence Cooperation agreement between the UK and Kenya required British troops to abide by Kenyan law, the British Army prefers to try soldiers under UK military law. Whilst British soldiers were subject to Kenyan law, they therefore existed in something of a legal grey area. The Kenyan Government contends that British troops may have been involved in unsolved serious violent crimes in Nanyuki. Moreover British bases and military shipping were not subject to except by all Kenyan authorities. These two disputes resulted in a confrontation in 2013.

Injuries resulting to civilians from live munitions were also a cause of tension; activists claim up to 50 Kenyans (mainly herders) have been killed by unexploded ordnance since 1945. The British Government responded that those injured had chosen to illegally enter marked training areas and suggested unexploded ordnance may have been left by Kenyan troops who share the training areas.[2]

Talks between David Cameron and President Uhuru Kenyatta resulted in an agreement in September 2015 whereby British military sites became subject to inspection, British soldiers are to be tried in Kenya (not necessarily under Kenyan law), clarifying the previous legal grey area, and Kenyan soldiers are to be offered more training opportunities both in the UK and with British forces in Kenya. This agreement reflects a more general warming of relations between President Kenyatta and Cameron's government.

British Army installations in Kenya
Name Part of Country County Opened Description
The Nyati BarracksFormerly the British Army Training Unit Kenya

Now vacated since March 2019 and handed back to the Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK). Previously acting as a rear base for a brigade sized battle group with all the required facilities including accommodation helicopter facilities, a Headquarters building, a medical centre, vehicle maintenance and storage together with leisure and training facilities.[3]

Kahawa Barracks, NairobiBritish Army Training Unit KenyaNairobiBATUK Rear area base and Depot.
Kifaru Barracks, NairobiBritish Army Training Unit KenyaKenyaNairobiBATUK Rear area base and Depot.
Archer's Post Training AreaBritish Army Training Unit KenyaKenyaLosesia Area1945
Dol Dol Training AreaBritish Army Training Unit KenyaKenyaLaikipia County1945
International Mine Action Training CentreBritish Peace Support Team East AfricaKenyaNairobi County2005The IMATC is a joint British and Kenyan venture aimed at alleviating the suffering caused by landmines and Explosive Remnants of War by providing high quality Mine Action Training.
Peace Training Support CentreBritish Peace Support Team East AfricaKenyaNairobi County2005Collocated with the Eastern Africa Standby Force site
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References
  1. "The British Army in Africa". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 30 November 2015.
  2. Britain's secret killing fields, theguardian.com, 2001
  3. British Army Training Unit, Kenya, campbellreith.com

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