A coalition of human rights activists during a presser./HANDOUT
A coalition of human rights activists, victims' families and local leaders has submitted a petition to Parliament, government agencies, the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) and the UK Ministry of Defence, calling for key reforms before Kenya ratifies a new Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) with the United Kingdom.
The petition follows a public meeting held in Nanyuki on June 20, 2026, where participants outlined a series of proposals they want addressed before any new framework governing the British military presence in Kenya is approved.
Among the petitioners' key demands are greater legal accountability for British soldiers accused of crimes in Kenya, independent investigations into unresolved cases linked to BATUK operations, compensation for victims and their families, and greater public participation in negotiating any future defence agreement.
The coalition also wants the government to ensure formal recognition and child support for children allegedly fathered and abandoned by British soldiers in Laikipia County.
It further calls for an independent environmental audit of military training areas and measures to address alleged environmental damage resulting from military exercises.
Esther Njoki, who identified herself as a representative of victims' families in Nanyuki and a relative of the late Agnes Wanjiru, said the petition seeks justice for victims before a new agreement is concluded.
"The system has failed us for too long. We demand justice for my aunt and all other victims before any new deal is signed," she said.
Agnes Wanjiru's murder remains one of the most prominent unresolved cases linked to BATUK. British authorities have previously said investigations are ongoing, while the UK government has maintained its commitment to cooperating with Kenyan authorities.
Lawyer Kevin Kubai, who represents some of the affected families, said the petition seeks legal reforms that would strengthen accountability for offences committed by foreign military personnel in Kenya.
Human rights activist Bob Njagi, leader of the Free Kenya Movement and a declared 2027 presidential candidate, said the coalition wants the government to ensure Kenya's sovereignty is upheld in any future agreement with Britain.
Other signatories to the petition include Booker Omole, General Secretary of the Communist Party Marxist, Boniface Mirikwa Wafula, a Member of the County Assembly for Machewa Ward in Trans Nzoia County, as well as activists and individuals who say they have been affected by BATUK operations in Laikipia.
The petition comes as Kenya has yet to ratify a Defence Cooperation Agreement signed with the United Kingdom in 2021.
The agreement has remained pending amid differences over legal jurisdiction for British military personnel stationed in Kenya.
At the centre of the dispute is Britain's position that it should retain primary jurisdiction over its troops for offences committed while on official duty, while Kenya has sought greater authority for its courts to prosecute offences committed on Kenyan soil.
The disagreement has delayed ratification of the agreement and raised questions about the future legal framework governing BATUK's operations in Kenya.
The petition also cites longstanding concerns raised by communities in areas where BATUK conducts military exercises. These include allegations of environmental degradation, fires linked to military training, sexual abuse and child abandonment.
Some of these allegations have been the subject of previous parliamentary enquiries and legal proceedings.
In November 2025, the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations recommended amendments to the proposed agreement to expand the jurisdiction of Kenyan courts over crimes committed by foreign troops in the country.
The committee's recommendations reflected concerns previously raised by Parliament over accountability and legal protections under the proposed agreement.
National Assembly Defence Committee Chairperson Nelson Koech has also publicly called for changes to the legal framework governing foreign troops operating in Kenya, including greater accountability for offences committed within the country.
The future of the Defence Cooperation Agreement is expected to depend on whether both governments can reach a consensus on the outstanding legal and accountability issues.
