BATUK headquarters/ SCREENGRAB
The United Kingdom has confirmed that its planned military exercise in Kenya will now go ahead later this year as planned.
This is after the Kenyan government agreed to issue the licences and permissions that had initially led to its cancellation.
In a statement, a UK government spokesperson said the two countries had resolved the licensing issue, allowing Exercise HARAKA STORM to proceed in Kenya during the same September-November period that had originally been scheduled.
"We can confirm that the Kenyan Government has agreed to issue the necessary licences and permissions for Exercise HARAKA STORM to take place in Kenya later this year. We value the close cooperation and shared commitment between the UK and Kenya which have enabled this progress," the spokesperson said.
The UK said detailed planning by the British Army had made it possible to retain the original training timeline despite last week's uncertainty.
"As a result, and following detailed work by the Army, we believe that it is possible to deliver the training in Kenya over the same time period as previously planned. Exercise HARAKA STORM will now take place later this year," the statement said.
The British government reaffirmed its commitment to its long-standing defence partnership with Kenya, saying military cooperation continues to benefit both countries.
"The UK remains committed to working closely with the Government of Kenya to further strengthen our deep and enduring military partnership, which continues to deliver for both the UK and Kenya and advances our shared aims and interests," it said.
The confirmation comes days after Britain announced that Exercise HARAKA STORM had been cancelled in Kenya after the required government licences failed to materialise.
At the time, the UK said the exercise, which had been scheduled for Laikipia between September and November 2026, would instead be relocated to another country, a move that was expected to affect local communities and businesses that benefit from the economic activity generated by British military deployments.
The British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), based near Laikipia Air Base, regularly conducts joint military training with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and supports community outreach programmes, including medical camps and environmental conservation initiatives.
Following Britain's announcement, the Kenyan government dismissed reports suggesting that the broader BATUK arrangement had come to an end.
In a statement issued on July 24, the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary said the defence partnership between Kenya and the United Kingdom remained intact, adding that the Kenya-UK Defence Cooperation Agreement was undergoing the required parliamentary approval process.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi said the agreement was before the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations for consideration in line with the Constitution and other legal requirements.
The government maintained that the two countries remained committed to resolving any outstanding issues through diplomatic, legal and institutional channels while preserving a defence partnership that supports military cooperation, regional security and economic opportunities for host communities.
