UK military training in Kenya extended for six months pending talks

British military will continue training in Kenya for the next six months pending negotiations between the two countries.

In an interview with the Nation, the British High Commissioner to Kenya, Christian Turner, said the time would allow for sufficient negotiations on a new Defence Cooperation Agreement.

The British army has been training in Nanyuki.

Below is an excerpt of the interview with Mr Turner that touched on the negotiations on the extension of British troops training camps in Nanyuki, travel advisories and the war on terror:

What is the status of the UK-Kenya relations?

Our two countries are bound together by strong ties that benefit us both. You only need to look at some of the figures: Sh175 billion a year in trade; Sh16.3 billion in aid investment to help the poorest and create jobs; military cooperation worth Sh8.6 billion a year. Four of the top ten corporate taxpayers in Kenya are headquartered in the UK. The two largest private sector employers in Kenya are British companies, and more tourists still come to Kenya from the UK than any other country.

We are contributing to Kenya’s present, and investing in its future. This includes working with Kenya to build our partnership on security, where we are working extremely closely. The UK elections are coming up in a week’s time. What does this mean for the UK-Kenya relations?
As a Crown Servant (not a political appointee), I can’t speak to the actions of a future government. As I’ve said, however, the relationship between our two countries is significant and mutually beneficial… whatever the outcome of next week’s election.

What is the status of the military training agreement with Kenya?

The UK and Kenya are continuing constructive negotiations on a new Defence Cooperation Agreement (for the Nanyuki-based British Army Training Unit Kenya). We share a strong interest in working together to achieve a successful outcome. Both governments have, therefore, agreed to extend the current Memorandum of Understanding for six months from April 21, to allow sufficient time to conclude negotiations.
It’s also worth clarifying that contrary to some reports in the media, UK troops have never had legal immunity in Kenya, nor would we wish them to. British soldiers have always been accountable for any crimes committed in Kenya, under Kenyan or UK law, and this will remain the case.

Critics say you often review your travel advisories on Kenya whenever you are negotiating for something. What is your comment on this?

Let me be very clear on this. UK travel advice is not based on political or economic considerations. It reflects solely our objective assessment of the security position; an assessment shared with the Kenyan authorities.

What tangible cooperation is the UK offering Kenya on security and the fight against terror?

The threat is a shared one, and so must be the response. We provide an extensive and ongoing programme of counter-terrorism assistance which includes training, technical advice and critical equipment. There are limitations to what I can say in this area for operational and security reasons. But let me put it this way. Our security cooperation is a bit like an iceberg. What you see above the surface is only a fraction of the whole. I can say that we are working to improve security at Kenya’s airports through the provision of equipment and training – including the provision of Explosive Trace Detection (ETD) and Counter IED kits to respond to new methods of concealing explosives. For the past decade we have been working with Kenya to strengthen its borders by providing training and Sh100 million worth of equipment to the Rural Border Patrol Unit. The UK is one of the strongest supporters of Kenya’s efforts towards police reform, and in recent months we have helped establish Kenya’s first ever Police Strategic Leadership Command Programme to develop a new generation of Kenyan Police Leaders. Our military cooperation with Kenya is worth Sh8.6 billion a year, the majority of which goes directly into the Kenyan economy. And we also provide technical support to the Judiciary and Directorate of Public Prosecutions to ensure that terrorists are caught, tried and brought to justice in accordance with the rule of law.

Do British agencies share information on the terror threat in detailed form with Kenyan authorities?

We don’t comment on specifics. But yes, Kenya and the UK enjoy a close and effective intelligence relationship.

What role do travel advisories serve?
There is a lot of misunderstanding in this area. First off all, the UK government has a responsibility to inform British citizens of the potential threats aimed at both Kenya and the international community. The rules governing UK Travel Advice are the same across the world. We have advisories against other countries with whom we are close friends: India, Thailand, Egypt, Tunisia to name a few. We made changes to our Travel Advice pages for France in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo shootings in Paris in January 2014, and for Canada and Denmark following terrorist incidents there. We have also just updated our Travel Advice to the US advising our citizens of the state of emergency declared in Baltimore. There is no ban against Kenya. UK advises against all but essential travel to specific parts of the north coast, not the rest of the country…We would like nothing more than to see that advice relax. The way to achieve that is to work together to tackle the threat of terrorism. Let’s tackle the causes, not the symptoms.

How have UK relations with Kenya changed from the time President Uhuru Kenyatta was facing charges at the International Criminal Court and after the case was withdrawn last December?

The UK was the first government to congratulate the Jubilee administration on their victory in the 2013 election. We were the first to invite President Kenyatta to travel abroad — to attend the London Somalia conference in May 2013. We have always been clear that the ICC case was an independent judicial process, and a matter for the court. The decision at the ICC means there is no case to answer for President Kenyatta. We all want the same thing: a more prosperous and secure Kenya…

President Kenyatta’s recent comments on British tourists as just ‘taxi drivers’ may have been deemed harsh. How did you deal with this?
London cabbies are of course famous the world over for their knowledge and strong opinions. But we want to see Brits from all professions and walks of life visit Kenya. More visitors still come to Kenya from the UK than from any other country.

While the UK has traditionally been Kenya’s key trading partner, there is a sense that the US is steadily upstaging you. What do you say to that?
I don’t accept this notion of competition between partner nations in Kenya. This is a multi-polar world where all countries benefit from a rise in foreign investment. We are all interlinked. There is no binary choice for Kenya to make between the US and UK, nor for that matter between East and West. Kenya should make investment decisions based on what is most in Kenya’s interests. Increased investment in Kenya will bring jobs and infrastructure which will benefit UK interests and businesses. A more prosperous Kenya is a more secure Kenya, which in turn means a more secure United Kingdom.

Clearly the Obama visit is a significant moment for both countries. The same was true of the recent visit of the UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond, just weeks before a UK General Election.