British Soldier Arrested in Kenya Over Alleged Rape Near BATUK Camp in Nanyuki

A British soldier stationed at the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) in Nanyuki has been apprehended in connection with an alleged rape incident involving a Kenyan woman near the military camp.

The incident is said to have occurred last month after a group of British soldiers visited a bar in Nanyuki. One of the soldiers allegedly sexually assaulted a Kenyan woman following the night out.

This arrest adds to the growing scrutiny over unresolved cases involving British troops accused of sexual violence against Kenyan women, as calls for justice and greater accountability intensify.

Police have questioned the suspect, and investigations remain ongoing. The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed the arrest and has since taken over the matter.

“We can confirm the apprehension of a service person in Kenya,” a spokesperson for the Ministry stated.

“Unacceptable and criminal behaviour has absolutely no place in our Armed Forces. Any report of a serious crime involving service personnel is investigated independently from their chain of command,” the spokesperson added, declining to provide further details due to the ongoing investigation by the Defence Serious Crime Unit.

This incident rekindles public outrage over the unresolved 2012 murder of Kenyan athlete Agnes Wanjiru, who was allegedly killed by a British soldier in Nanyuki. Wanjiru, then 21, was last seen entering Lion’s Court Hotel with soldiers from the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment. Her body was discovered two months later in a septic tank at the same hotel.

The case resurfaced years later after leaked WhatsApp messages showed soldiers from the same regiment mocking Wanjiru’s death, using memes that referenced hotels, murder, and septic tanks. Despite public outcry, no soldier has been prosecuted over the murder.

The British Army maintains a defence cooperation agreement with Kenya, allowing up to six infantry battalions per year — approximately 6,000 soldiers — to train in Kenya’s remote countryside.

The latest arrest is expected to further strain public trust in BATUK operations, as advocacy groups and local leaders continue to demand justice and stricter oversight of foreign military personnel on Kenyan soil.

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British Soldier Arrested in Kenya Over Alleged Rape Near BATUK Camp in Nanyuki