Sexual Violence against women where the British Army trains in Kenya continues to be reported

This post discusses sexual violence.

Gender-based violence (GBV) is violence directed at someone based on their gender. GBV encompasses harmful acts which include but are not limited to femicide (the murdering of females, often because of their gender), physical violence, sexual assault and rape, and psychological, emotional and socio-economic abuse. 

In Kenya, as in many other countries, GBV disproportionately affects women. Between 39 per cent and 47 per cent of Kenyan women experience GBV in their lifetime. Government statistics from the Kenya Demographic and Health Survey found that over 40 per cent of women had experienced physical violence in their lifetime and according to analysis carried out by the Africa Data Hub, more than 500 women were victims of femicide in Kenya between 2016 and 2024.

One area where GBV is particularly rife is Nanyuki, where the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), a permanent training support unit that provides ‘demanding training to exercising units preparing to deploy on operations or assume high-readiness tasks’, is situated. It is the largest contingent of British soldiers in Kenya and has existed since Kenyan independence in 1963.

Allegations of rape perpetrated by British soldiers in Kenya have been made for decades and yet the problem persists to this day. In 2003 Amnesty International reported that over 650 allegations of rape by British Soldiers had been made by local women in the period between 1965 and 2001, and that over half were cases of gang rape. Several of the reported incidents involved children. Women reported serious physical injuries as well as psychological trauma. They expressed feelings of fear, shame, and humiliation.

Victims of rape in Nanyuki have faced and continue to face significant obstacles in trying to bring perpetrators to justice. Obstacles include fear of reporting, stigma and repercussions, as well as failure by authorities (both Kenyan and British) to act on reports of sexual violence.

Particularly serious accusations against British soldiers were made in relation to the murder of Agnes Wanjiru, which remains under investigation. Leigh Day acts for Rose Wanjiku, Agnes’ sister.  

Agnes, a 21-year-old Kenyan mother, was last seen alive on 31 March 2012 in the company of British soldiers at the Lions Court Hotel in Nanyuki, a popular party location for British soldiers stationed at BATUK. 

On 5 June 2012, Agnes’ body was discovered in a septic tank at the Lions Court Hotel. Her body was found floating on the surface and she was naked except for a bra and necklace. Her body was found in an advanced stage of decomposition. 

A post-mortem examination found that she had been strangled and stabbed in the chest and abdomen. It also found that Agnes may have been placed in the septic tank while she was still alive.

On 5 November 2019 a Kenyan Inquest held into Agnes’ death concluded that she had been murdered by British soldiers. 

Press reports indicate that on the night in question the soldier responsible (Soldier X) showed the body of Agnes to another soldier and confessed to killing her. An investigation by the Sunday Times also revealed that Soldier X and others joked about the murder of Agnes in Facebook posts. 

Despite the inquest findings and widespread media coverage since 2020, no soldiers have been prosecuted for Agnes’ death. There are ongoing criminal investigations in Kenya, however these have been subject to significant delays.

The British Ministry of Defence announced a ‘Zero Tolerance Policy’ for sexual offences in the armed forced in March 2022. Despite this, investigations carried out by journalists indicate that British soldiers are still paying for sex ‘day in and day out’ and sexually assaulting and raping women with impunity.  

An ITV documentary, ‘The Base: A British Army Scandal’ which aired on 29 September 2024 revealed a series of shocking fresh allegations. These included allegations of recent sexual violence, including against girls as young as 13. One 15-year-old girl who appeared in the documentary recalled being gang raped by a group of soldiers stationed at BATUK when she was only 14. 

Despite the many years of widespread knowledge that local women face sexual violence and assault, the allegations continue.  

The Kenyan Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations has in 2024 been carrying out an inquiry into the conduct of BATUK. The inquiry has heard evidence of hit and runs, physical violence, rape and murder and a host of other serious alleged offences.

Over 12 years have now passed since the death of Agnes and many more years have passed since concerns about violence against women by British soldiers in Nanyuki were first raised. 

Agnes’ family have been seeking justice for Agnes in the hope of holding the individual(s) responsible for her murder accountable and to ensure that lessons are learned from her violent death. The family want to honour Agnes’ memory by ensuring that she did not die in vain.

They will continue their fight until the UK Government fearlessly and independently investigates Agnes’ death and the alleged cover up to ensure that lessons are learned, and decisive steps are taken to protect the women and children of Nanyuki.