The United Kingdom’s defence ministry confirmed on Thursday that a scheduled annual military training session in Kenya has been called off. This decision stems from the inability to secure the required government permits for the operation.
Located in Laikipia, roughly 200 kilometres north of Nairobi, the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) serves as a permanent base for British forces. Since Kenya gained independence in 1963, both nations have maintained robust diplomatic and defence relations, permitting thousands of British soldiers to conduct yearly drills within Kenyan borders.
A spokesperson for the British defence ministry expressed disappointment that the essential training licenses for the upcoming session in Laikipia were not provided. Consequently, the exercises have been moved to an alternative, undisclosed nation. Neither British officials nor the Kenyan government provided a specific reason for the licensing delay.
Despite this shift, the ministry emphasized that the long-standing defence cooperation between the two countries remains intact. The presence of the British base has historically faced public scrutiny due to past allegations involving serious crimes by soldiers stationed there.
