Ministry of Defense admits its Kenya Desk failed to communicate with Kenyan authorities amid rape and murder claims against British troops – Byline Times

The UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) Kenya desk does not keep records of communications with Kenyan authorities regarding ongoing investigations into alleged misconduct by British soldiers stationed in the East African country. Byline tenses has learned.

The revelation comes as serious allegations of rape, murder and exploitation at the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) surface, further straining the relationship between local communities and British soldiers. The army has confirmed it will investigate the conduct of British troops stationed at the base.

A Freedom of Information (FOI) request from Byline tenses asked for details of communications between the Ministry of Defense and the Kenyan Parliament regarding the allegations of misconduct, as well as any information provided by the Ministry of Defense to assist in the Kenyan parliamentary investigation.

The request also sought clarification on the actions the Ministry of Defense has taken or intends to take in response to the testimonies given at public hearings in Kenya.

These testimonies have brought renewed attention to claims of abuse, most notably the unsolved 2012 murder of Kenyan woman Agnes Wanjiru, allegedly by a British soldier.

In its response, the Ministry of Defence, through its Kenya Desk Officer of Security Policy Operations, confirmed that it had found nothing relevant to the request following an internal search.

The letter stated that “no information is being retained in connection with your request,” meaning the Ministry of Defense has no recorded communications or details of actions related to the ongoing Kenyan investigation into British soldier misconduct.

This lack of documentation is surprising given the serious nature of the allegations and public investigations taking place in Kenya. Since 2022, Wanjiru’s family, together with their legal representatives from the firm Leigh Day, have been pressuring the Ministry of Defense to properly investigate her death.

Wanjiru, a local woman who was last seen alive drinking with British soldiers, was later found dead in a septic tank near the BATUK base.

A Kenyan inquest concluded that one or more British soldiers were responsible for her murder, but despite the inquest’s findings and eyewitness testimony involving a British soldier, no charges were brought.

The case received renewed attention after a Sunday Times Investigations uncovered further evidence suggesting that British soldiers stationed in Kenya may have been involved.

However, the apparent lack of communication or documentation from the Ministry of Defense on this matter, or the wider investigations, has raised concerns about the transparency of the military’s actions abroad.

The FOI response also comes as a new ITV documentary, The basics: a British military scandalshed light on additional allegations of sexual violence and exploitation committed by British soldiers at the BATUK base.

The documentary contained disturbing testimonies from local women, including girls as young as 13, who claim they were sexually abused by British troops.

One woman, identified as Eve, said she was raped by a group of soldiers at the age of 14. Another, Faith, described how she was raped by six British soldiers earlier this year.

Despite these mounting allegations, the Ministry of Defense’s response shows that under the Conservative government, no formal steps were taken by the ministry to engage with Kenyan authorities or provide information in support of the investigation.

The lack of available data is particularly striking given the high-profile nature of the case and the fact that the Kenyan government has conducted a public investigation into human rights abuses and misconduct linked to the BATUK base.

The Kenyan investigation, which collected testimonies from local residents and victims over the summer, has revealed a pattern of exploitation and abuse by British soldiers, sparking outrage among the Kenyan public.

In 2006, an investigation by the Royal Military Police into allegations that more than 2,000 Kenyan women had been raped by British soldiers found no reliable evidence to support prosecutions.

The Ministry of Defense subsequently stated that the investigation, which reviewed claims dating back more than 55 years, found that much of the evidence was fabricated. Despite these findings, civil society groups vowed to continue pursuing justice for the women. The investigation was verified by Devon and Cornwall Police.

In a separate FOI request for Byline tensesthe Ministry of Defense was also asked to provide details of the internal measures taken in connection with the Agnes Wanjiru case. The Defense Department confirmed it had certain information but declined to release it, citing legal exceptions. They argued that sharing the information could damage relations between Britain and Kenya and affect ongoing investigations.

Things could change in the coming months. In response to growing criticism, the new defense secretary, John Healey, has pledged to meet with Wanjiru’s family to discuss the matter – the first time a British defense secretary has made such a gesture.

Healey also reiterated Britain’s commitment to work with Kenyan authorities and ensure justice for Wanjiru’s family.

As a Ministry of Defense spokesperson said: “The Minister of Defense has long recognized and upheld the tragic circumstances of Ms Wanjiru’s death and reaffirms his commitment to pursuing justice for Ms Wanjiru and for Ms Wanjiru’s family as a priority.

“Since his appointment to this position, he has directed the department to take all possible steps to ensure the fullest cooperation with the Kenyan authorities on this matter. The Secretary of State would appreciate a meeting with the family.”

However, the historic lack of prosecution or significant action in the Wanjiru case and the 2006 investigation, combined with new allegations of abuse, has led many to question whether the British military has done enough internally to address the misconduct of its to address stationed personnel.