A three-year wait for justice has ended after the United Kingdom agreed to compensate more than 7,000 Laikipia residents affected by a devastating wildfire sparked by a British military exercise in 2021.
The UK government confirmed it will pay £2.9 million (about $4 million or Sh600 million) in settlement following a case lodged by residents of Lolldaiga Hills and surrounding areas.
The blaze, which broke out during joint training exercises with the Kenya Defence Forces, destroyed vast swathes of the Lolldaiga Conservancy, damaged the environment, and left behind unexploded material that injured locals.
The affected communities sued, citing long-term health problems, environmental degradation, and disruption of livelihoods. Public anger intensified after a British soldier appeared to admit responsibility in a social media post, triggering an inquiry by the Royal Military Police.
Lawyers representing the victims confirmed that the funds have been dispatched, describing the payout as relief for “smoke nuisance” caused by the fire.
However, they noted that for many families, the damage went far beyond nuisance, with crops, livestock, and health irreversibly affected.
In a statement on Friday, the British High Commission in Nairobi described the fire as “extremely regrettable” and acknowledged frustration caused by the prolonged delay in resolving the matter.
The case has reignited debate about the presence and conduct of foreign forces training in Kenya.
The British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), headquartered in Nanyuki, has long been a fixture in Laikipia, bringing both economic benefits and controversy.
For residents of Lolldaiga, the compensation marks closure to a painful chapter, though questions remain over accountability and the future oversight of military drills on Kenyan soil.
