MP Nelson Koech Rejects British Army’s Symbolic Acknowledgement, Demanding Binding Accountability in Upcoming Defence Agreement Renewal

Belgut MP Nelson Koech demands that the 2026 UK-Kenya Defence Agreement include binding reforms and Kenyan court jurisdiction over BATUK soldiers.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 28, 2026, 8:54 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from TUKO.co.ke

High Ranking British Admission Met With Legislative Skepticism

General Sir Roly Walker, Chief of the General Staff of the British Army, recently made a historic visit to Nanyuki to acknowledge the harm caused by British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) personnel. While Walker became the most senior officer to publicly admit to instances of abuse, loss of life, and environmental damage, his statement has been met with significant skepticism by Kenyan lawmakers. Belgut MP Nelson Koech, who chairs the National Assembly’s Defence Committee, characterized the General's words as a carefully limited admission that deliberately avoided the critical issues of legal accountability and preventive reform.

Parliamentary Findings Document Systematic Misconduct

The tension follows a comprehensive two year parliamentary inquiry concluded in November 2025, which documented a harrowing list of grievances against BATUK soldiers. The committee’s report detailed cases of sexual assault, deaths resulting from unexploded ordnance on training grounds, and widespread environmental degradation in the Laikipia region. According to Koech, the evidence suggested a persistent contempt for Kenyan sovereignty and local laws. Despite these findings, Walker’s recent acknowledgement lacked any mention of fresh investigations or a formal mechanism to hold specific soldiers responsible for past crimes.

The Jurisdictional Barrier to Victim Justice

At the heart of the dispute is the 2021 Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA), which Koech identifies as the primary obstacle to achieving justice for Kenyan victims. Under current terms, the United Kingdom retains primary jurisdiction over offenses committed by its soldiers while on duty, effectively shielding them from the Kenyan legal system. The parliamentary committee has recommended that the upcoming renegotiations must grant Kenyan courts jurisdiction over crimes committed on local soil. This demand seeks to eliminate the diplomatic immunity that has historically left victims with no practical legal recourse within their own country.