British Solidier arrested in Kenya for rape
A British soldier has been arrested in Kenya on suspicion of rape, following an alleged incident near the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) in Nanyuki.
The arrest was made by Kenyan authorities last month after the soldier reportedly visited a local bar with fellow servicemen.
The UK’s Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed the arrest, stating that the matter is under investigation by the Defence Serious Crime Command, a specialised unit responsible for probing serious criminal allegations involving British military personnel.
The MoD added that it is cooperating fully with Kenyan law enforcement and reaffirmed its “zero tolerance” stance on misconduct.
The alleged rape took place in May 2025, in proximity to the BATUK facility, which has for years been at the centre of recurring controversies. In 2012, the body of Agnes Wanjiru, a Kenyan woman, was found in a septic tank at a hotel in Nanyuki after she was last seen with British soldiers. Despite a 2019 Kenyan inquest concluding she was murdered by British personnel, no one has been prosecuted in connection with her death.
The latest case has reignited public concern over the long-standing presence of British troops in Kenya and allegations of impunity surrounding them. Between 1965 and 2001, more than 600 rape complaints were reportedly filed against British soldiers, with critics accusing UK and Kenyan authorities of systemic failure to hold perpetrators accountable.
While the identity of the soldier in the most recent incident has not been disclosed, UK military officials stressed that all troops deployed to Kenya undergo mandatory conduct training and are expected to uphold the highest standards of discipline.
Investigations are ongoing, with both UK and Kenyan authorities expected to coordinate any further legal action. The arrest has added momentum to calls from Kenyan civil society groups for greater transparency, oversight, and justice in cases involving foreign military personnel on Kenyan soil.
