Global InformationBritish Army Training Unit Kenya information
| British Army Training Unit Kenya | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Branch |  British Army |
| Role | Training support |
| Size | 300 (permanent) 550 (local civilians)[1] up to 10,000 (training, per year)[2] |
| Garrison/HQ | Nyati Barracks, Nanyuki |
The British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) is a training support unit of the British Army located in Kenya.
On 3 June 1964, Duncan Sandys, Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, signed a post-independence defence agreement with the new Kenyan government. Among its other provisions, it specified that British troops could exercise in Kenya twice a year.[3]
Today, BATUK administers and facilitates British Army access to the large number of training areas made available by the Kenyan authorities. These training areas make possible combined arms light and mechanised role infantry battlegroup and brigade exercises, as well as civil engineering and medical projects for the local population, funded by the British Army.[4]
Under an agreement with the Kenyan Government, up to six infantry battalions per year carry out eight-week exercises in Kenya. There are also three Royal Engineers squadron exercises which carry out civil engineering projects, as well as two Army Medical Services medical company group deployments.[5][6]
British Army troops also help prevent poaching of endangered species such as rhinos and elephants, and are said to contribute £58 million[7] to the Kenyan economy each year.[8]
BATUK has three installations: Nyati Barracks at Laikipia Air Base in Nanyuki contains the headquarters, accommodation, mess, stores and offices; Kifaru Barracks is a rear base and logistical hub in Nairobi;[9] Kahawa Barracks, hosted by the Kenya Army, is a similar rear base in Nairobi.[9]
Over the years, British soldiers deploying to BATUK for training have been involved in criminal acts, which have attracted media attention in both Britain and Kenya. Allegations and court cases have included murder,[10][11] brawls, rape,[11] sexual assault, an alleged child kidnapping, environmental damage, fatal hit-and-runs, and sexual exploitation of Kenyan women.[12]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
nanyukiwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Cite error: The named reference
BFBSwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Hornsby 2012, p. 98–99.
- ^ "Supporting the British Army's capability in Kenya - Inside DIO". insidedio.blog.gov.uk. January 14, 2019.
- ^ Live, Surrey (April 9, 2007). "Soldiering on for African projects". SurreyLive.
- ^ "Managing housing infrastructure in Kenya". insidedio.blog.gov.uk. August 13, 2014.
- ^ Blomfield, Adrian; Farmer, Ben (November 10, 2017). "British Army's Kenya training threatened by land row" – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
- ^ Weir, Fiona (February 26, 2016). "BATUK: Britain's base in Kenya". Forces Network.
- ^ a b Calvert, Kevin (14 January 2019). "Supporting the British Army's capability in Kenya". GOV.UK. Inside DIO. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ Hall, Rachel (2021-11-10). "Family of Kenyan woman allegedly murdered by UK soldier to sue MoD". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
- ^ a b Cherono, Stella (2021-10-26). "Kenya: How British Soldiers Flout the Rules of Engagement in the Country". The Nation. Retrieved 2023-06-28.
- ^ Willems, Michiel (2021-11-14). "Defence Secretary Ben Wallace denies murder of Kenyan woman by British soldier was covered up". CityAM. Retrieved 2023-06-28.