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British soldier arrested after alleged rape in Nanyuki
British Army soldiers training at Lolldaiga area in Laikipia County on November 14, 2022.
What you need to know:
- The following day, the woman reported the alleged rape prompting an investigation that led to the arrest and repatriation of the suspect.
A British soldier stationed at the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk) in Nanyuki, Laikipia County has been arrested over allegations of rape.
The incident reportedly occurred a few metres from the Nyati Batuk camp.
A spokesperson for the British Ministry of Defence confirmed the arrest of the suspect but declined to provide further details, stating that the matter is still under investigation.
“We can confirm the arrest of a service person in Kenya. As the matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation by the Defence Serious Crime Command, it would be inappropriate to comment further,” reads a dispatch from the British High Commission.
The incident is being handled by the UK military police, who have jurisdiction as per the Defence Cooperation Agreement between the United Kingdom and Kenya.
A source familiar with the incident told the Nation that the two first visited a popular entertainment joint on the outskirts of Nanyuki Town before heading to another bar near Nyati Barracks.
After consuming several drinks, they reportedly left the establishment and were seen heading towards a roadside thicket where the sexual assault is suspected to have occurred.
The following day, the woman reported the alleged rape prompting an investigation that led to the arrest and repatriation of the suspect. Nyati Barracks is under CCTV surveillance and it is believed that investigators will rely on the footage to help determine what transpired.
The defence agreement between Kenya and the UK allows British soldiers to conduct training exercises in Laikipia, Isiolo and Samburu counties.
British soldiers have in the past been accused of crimes during these exercises, including the rape of local women and even murder.
An inquiry into the conduct of British troops stationed at the Nanyuki military camp was launched last year but the findings of the investigation have yet to be made public.
The latest rape allegation has rekindled memories of the 2012 case involving Agnes Wanjiru, a Nanyuki woman who was allegedly murdered by British soldiers after attending a party with them at a popular Nanyuki hotel.
The suspect in Wanjiru’s case has yet to be prosecuted, despite repeated pledges by senior UK officials that those responsible would be held accountable.
In April this year, UK Defence Secretary John Healey met for the first time with Wanjiru’s family and reiterated the UK government’s commitment to securing justice for their loved one.
The British Army has also been sued over a wild fire thata damaged 12,000 acres of land of Loldaiga Hills in Laikipia during a training exercise in 2021.
