Kenya, UK in military pact talks

The United Kingdom is in talks with the Kenya Government to resolve a stalemate over clearance for its troops to train in Kenya.

This came as the US denied reports that it was moving its Kenya-based marines to Djibouti following the cancellation of a military agreement.

The UK High Commission spokesman, Mr Stephen Burns, said they were hopeful the stalemate would be resolved to allow British troops from the Second Battalion to fly in.

It will also pave the way for soldiers from the Third Battalion who have completed their training in Laikipia to return home.

“We can confirm that talks are going on and are confident this will be resolved shortly,” he said.

The delay affects 700 soldiers expected to receive infantry training. The British Government has been sending soldiers to train in Kenya since 1963.

On Friday, Mr Burns said the UK and Kenya were allies in defence and security matters.

“We have established deep roots with the communities and have expectations that our long shared tradition of military cooperation will continue for decades to come, and in the process deliver a more stable and secure Kenya,” he said.

There have been rumours that Kenya had refused to renew military cooperation agreement, but Mr Burns said the memorandum of understanding was still in place.

“The current memorandum of understanding governing UK/Kenya military cooperation remains in place till April 2015 when a new one is due to be signed,” he said.

Last week, High Commissioner Christian Turner said the British military cooperation with Kenya was valued at Sh8.66 billion a year.

Relations between Kenya and UK have been strained since President Uhuru Kenyatta took power last year. Matters have been made worse by the frequent travel advisories issued by the UK which Kenya says hurt its economy.

TRAINING PROGRAMME POSTPONED

Meanwhile, Kenya Wildlife Service has denied that a deal for the UK to provide wildlife protection and specialised training has been scrapped.

Just two days after President Kenyatta issued an order placing the armed services of the KWS the Forest Department, the National Youth Service and Prisons at the disposal of the Inspector General of Police, a planned British Army training programme for KWS rangers was put on hold, sparking rumours of a fallout between the two governments.

Wildlife Service director William Kibet Kiprono, however, said the programme was only postponed due to the deployment of officials to more urgent security assignments.

The training will take place at a later date, he said.