Kenya holds public hearings into alleged abuses by British troops
- Kenya is examining alleged abuses including torture, unlawful detention and killings
- British troops hold military exercises, maintain a permanent base in the former colony
Kenya was holding public hearings this week into allegations of human rights violations and abuses of power by British troops based in the former colony.
The British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK) is an economic lifeline for many in the central town of Nanyuki, where it maintains a permanent base, but soldiers stationed there have also been accused of committing offences including murder.
In the most high-profile case dating back to 2012, the body of a young Kenyan mother was found in a septic tank in Nanyuki where she was last seen alive with a British soldier.
Agnes Wanjiru’s family filed a lawsuit in Kenya over the 21-year-old’s death, but progress has been sluggish, with hearings repeatedly postponed. The case is now due to be heard on July 10, according to local media.
Kenya’s parliament announced last week it would hold four public hearings, including one in Nanyuki, into alleged abuses by British troops stationed in the country.