NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenyan government has moved to dispel speculation over the future of the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), insisting that defence cooperation with the United Kingdom remains active and that reports suggesting the military partnership has ended are inaccurate.
The Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Musalia Mudavadi, said claims that BATUK has stopped operations or that the Kenya-United Kingdom defence partnership has collapsed do not reflect the current state of relations between Nairobi and London.
“The Government discounts claims suggesting the defence partnership between Kenya and the United Kingdom has been terminated or that the BATUK arrangement has come to an end,” the statement read.
The clarification comes amid renewed public debate over the Kenya-UK Defence Cooperation Agreement, which provides the legal framework governing British military training activities in Kenya.
According to Mudavadi’s office, the agreement is currently undergoing the required parliamentary process before any final decisions are made.
The government said Kenya and Britain remain strategic partners with decades of cooperation in military training, counter-terrorism operations, defence capacity building and regional security initiatives.
It also highlighted the economic importance of BATUK activities, particularly for communities hosting British military exercises, including areas around Laikipia County where the unit maintains its training presence.
“The Government discounts claims suggesting the defence partnership between Kenya and the United Kingdom has been terminated or that the BATUK arrangement has come to an end,” the statement said.
Nairobi said any unresolved matters arising from the defence relationship would continue to be addressed through established diplomatic and institutional mechanisms rather than public speculation.
“Kenya remains committed to resolving all outstanding matters through the established diplomatic and institutional channels. We look forward to an amicable conclusion of the parliamentary process and the continued implementation of the bilateral defence cooperation framework for the mutual benefit of both countries,” the statement affirmed.
The government described the Kenya-UK relationship as being built on mutual respect, shared interests and longstanding people-to-people connections.
BATUK has operated in Kenya for decades, with British soldiers using training facilities in the country for exercises designed to improve combat readiness, peacekeeping capabilities and counter-terrorism cooperation.
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The partnership has also remained politically sensitive, with debates periodically emerging around issues including environmental concerns, military accountability, land use and the economic benefits associated with hosting foreign troops.
However, the government maintained that the defence partnership continues to serve Kenya’s broader security interests.
Mudavadi’s office said Nairobi and London will continue working together to strengthen military cooperation, support regional peace and security efforts and advance their wider strategic partnership.
The clarification comes as both countries navigate the parliamentary review process for the defence agreement, with the government urging stakeholders to allow the formal institutions involved to complete their work.
