The government has dismissed reports suggesting that the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) arrangement has come to an end, saying defence cooperation with the United Kingdom remains intact.

🇰🇪 Breaking It Down

In a statement issued on Friday, July 24, and signed by Director of Press Services Jacob Ng’etich, the Ministry of Foreign  Affairs said reports claiming the defence partnership had been terminated were false.

The clarification came after  Kenyans.co.ke reported that a planned British military training exercise in Laikipia had been cancelled following delays in securing the required government licences.

The government said the cancellation of the specific exercise should not be interpreted as an end to BATUK operations or a breakdown in relations between Nairobi and London.

📌 What You Need to Know

Musalia Mudavadi’s office said the Kenya-United Kingdom Defence Cooperation Agreement that has been stuck in Parliament is currently undergoing the required parliamentary review process.

The agreement is before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations for consideration, however, it has faced headwinds due to a dispute regarding jurisdiction for serious crimes like murder.

“The Government therefore discounts claims suggesting that 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 government said Kenya and the UK continue to maintain a “long-standing, historic and mutually beneficial strategic partnership” based on mutual respect, shared interests and close people-to-people ties.

The clarification follows a report by  Kenyans.co.ke on Thursday, July 23,  that the UK cancelled a planned military exercise known as Haraka Storm, which was scheduled to take place in Laikipia between September and November 2026.

The UK said the exercise would not proceed in Kenya after the necessary approvals and licences required for the training were not granted.

📰 Source: Kenyans.co.ke