A member of the British armed forces has been arrested in Kenya following an allegation of rape, the United Kingdom’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) confirmed on Sunday. The soldier, whose identity has not been disclosed, is under investigation by the Defence Serious Crime Command, the MOD’s specialized unit for serious offenses. In a statement, the MOD said, “We can confirm the arrest of a service person in Kenya. As the matter is the subject of an ongoing investigation… we will not comment further.” The arrest was first reported by the BBC and other British outlets.
The incident has reignited scrutiny over the conduct of British troops stationed in Kenya under a UK-Kenya defence cooperation agreement, which allows thousands of UK soldiers to train in the East African country annually. About 200 British military personnel are permanently based near Nanyuki, where they also support the training of Kenyan forces. The British military presence has long been controversial in Kenya. Many locals have accused UK troops of misconduct and arrogance, particularly near the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) camp. The situation escalated in 2012 with the unresolved death of Agnes Wanjiru, a 21-year-old Kenyan woman last seen leaving a bar with British soldiers. Her body was found in a septic tank behind a hotel near the camp. Despite evidence implicating a British soldier, no charges have been brought to date.
In April 2024, UK Defence Secretary John Healey met Wanjiru’s family in Kenya and promised renewed efforts to deliver justice. His visit followed mounting pressure from Kenyan civil society and international human rights groups. The MOD has since announced an inquiry into allegations of misconduct and abuse by UK personnel in Kenya. “All British personnel in the country receive mandatory conduct training and briefings and are expected to uphold the highest standards of behavior, both on and off duty,” the ministry said, adding that there is “zero tolerance for unacceptable behaviour.”
The new arrest is likely to add to the growing calls for greater accountability and legal clarity under the UK-Kenya defense partnership, as well as for justice in long-standing unresolved cases like Wanjiru’s.
