The British High Commission has dismissed claims that senior officials from the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) ignored a parliamentary summons, saying no formal invitation was issued.
“Neither the British High Commission, UK Ministry of Defence, nor BATUK has received a formal invitation to appear before Kenya’s Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee (DIFRC),” a spokesperson said on Wednesday. “We continue to discuss with the Government of Kenya and the DIFRC how best to provide information in support of the inquiry.”
The response comes a day after committee chair Nelson Koech accused BATUK of failing to attend a scheduled session probing alleged misconduct by British soldiers. Koech cited accusations ranging from fathering children through illegal relationships to involvement in serious crimes, warning that Parliament could compel attendance through arrest or fines.
“This House was reluctant to pass the Defence Cooperation Agreement, so in the eyes of this committee, BATUK are hostile witnesses,” Koech told lawmakers.
The British High Commission reiterated the value of the bilateral defence arrangement, stating: “The UK-Kenya defence partnership is one of the great strengths of our relationship and our joint training and collaboration with the Kenyan Defence Forces are keeping both Kenyan and British people safe.”
The parliamentary inquiry is examining allegations against BATUK, including corruption, abuse of power, and the 2012 killing of Agnes Wanjiru, whose body was found in a hotel septic tank in Nanyuki two months after her disappearance.
Written By Rodney Mbua
