The United Kingdom has cancelled a planned military training exercise in Laikipia after the Government of Kenya failed to issue the licences required for it to proceed, the UK’s Ministry of Defence has confirmed.
An MOD spokesperson said the exercise, which had been expected to run between September and November, would now take place at an alternative location outside Kenya. The ministry called the decision regrettable and acknowledged the economic setback for communities that would have benefited from the deployment. It said the required licences for training in Laikipia had not been forthcoming, so the exercise would proceed elsewhere.
The cancellation does not affect the continued presence of the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), which regularly conducts joint training with the Kenya Defence Forces alongside community programmes such as tree planting and medical outreach in Laikipia.
Kenya has renewed its defence cooperation agreement with the UK for decades, but the latest renewal has stalled. Reports indicate the disagreement centres on jurisdiction over British soldiers accused of crimes committed in Kenya, with Nairobi pushing for its courts to have authority over such cases, while London has sought to retain jurisdiction, particularly for serious offences. The cost the UK pays to use training facilities has also emerged as a sticking point.
The dispute follows a National Assembly inquiry into BATUK’s conduct, which raised concerns among lawmakers over community grievances, environmental damage and misconduct allegations linked to British troops in Laikipia and Samburu. During a visit in March, British Army Chief Sir Roly Walker pledged to personally follow up on the grievances raised.
The case of Agnes Wanjiru, in which a British soldier has been charged with murder, has added pressure on both governments to strengthen accountability measures before the defence pact is ratified. Kenya has retained jurisdiction in that case.
A day before the cancellation was announced, British High Commissioner Matt Baugh met President William Ruto at State House, where the two sides said they had discussed strengthening trade and investment ties and reaffirmed their commitment to regional peace and security. Neither side disclosed whether the licensing dispute came up.
The UK reaffirmed its commitment to the defence partnership, saying it would keep engaging Kenya to support the resumption of training in-country at the earliest opportunity.
