Kenya, UK to sign new military deal

Kenya police officers and British army soldiers at a scene where a helicopter belonging to British Army Training in Kenya (BATUK) crash-landed in the Gathiuru Forest in Mt Kenya area on January 8, 2015. The sticking issues in the defence agreement, which allows British soldiers to train in Kenya, have been ironed out by the two governments. PHOTO | JOSEPH KANYI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By  PATRICK NZIOKA

What you need to know:

  • The agreement must now go through Parliament in both countries as well as be subjected to public debate in the counties.
  • British soldiers have been training locally in Laikipia and Samburu.
  • About 10,000 British soldiers train in the country every year.

The sticking issues in the defence agreement that allows British soldiers to train in Kenya has been ironed out by the two governments.

The agreement must now go through Parliament in both countries, as well as be subjected to public debate in the counties.

British soldiers have been training locally in Laikipia and Samburu.

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Although no specific date was set, it is expected that the agreement will be signed on or before British premier David Cameron visits the country early next year.

Mr Cameron accepted an invitation to visit during a meeting with President Uhuru Kenyatta, on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations General Assembly in New York on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, a source from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Kenyan officials, including those from the Department of Defence, want the agreement signed next month rather than extend the interim one that lapses.

About 10,000 British soldiers train in the country every year.

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The agreement signed five years ago has expired but was extended to next month.

British officials would have preferred the agreement be signed during the meetings between the two leaders, but Kenya felt it should take place in London or Nairobi.

A senior UK government official told the Nation on Wednesday the issue of how and where British soldiers would be tried should they break the law has been agreed upon.

He clarified that the British government had not insisted on immunity for its soldiers while training in Kenya.

Kenyan officials will also have access to the training grounds and will be free to inspect any consignment shipped into the country for use by the British soldiers.

In June, Defence CS Raychelle Omamo shocked a parliamentary committee when she disclosed that Kenyan officials, including the President, are not allowed to inspect facilities and equipment used by British soldiers.

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