Jubilee MPs agree to ratify military deal

Jubilee lawmakers have finally agreed to ratify a military agreement between Kenya and Britain following a meeting with Deputy President William Ruto on Wednesday.

The MPs were persuaded to approve the agreement after a number of them raised reservations earlier about the benefits the country was getting from the military deal.

Kenya entered into a new pact with Britain to extend the training of its 10,000 soldiers in Laikipia and Nanyuki last December following the expiry of the previous one.

The Constitution requires that such international deals must be ratified by Parliament.

Jubilee boasts of higher numbers in Parliament and with their nod, the agreement would easily pass.

Meru MPs threatened in May to reject the deal saying Kenya should not entertain British soldiers after their country banned miraa.

The ban was effected in 2014 and left many farmers in disarray as the country was one of its key markets.

Leaders have also been pushing for local prosecution of the soldiers when they commit crimes.

Those who attended the meeting said they were pressed upon to ratify the deal in order to foster relationships between the two countries.

Those who talked to the Nation after the meeting with the DP at his official residence in Karen said they had agreed to allow Britain to continue with its training but said they will push the government to renegotiate the deal so that ordinary Kenyans benefit from it.