British soldiers in Kenya: Witnesses allege abuse at emotional inquiry

The family of a young woman allegedly disabled in a hit-and-run, a mother who says she was abandoned when pregnant and a man who described being mauled by a lion have all told a public inquiry in Kenya how they felt abused and mistreated by British soldiers.

The soldiers were all stationed at a base for the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk) in Nanyuki, which is about 200km (125 miles) north of the capital, Nairobi, and was established in 1964 shortly after the East African nation gained independence from the UK.

Dozens of people gave evidence to the parliamentary inquiry this week about alleged misconduct of British troops at four hearings near the base – with hundreds of others in attendance.

Kenya’s Defence Minister Aden Duale has reiterated that Kenya will seek prosecutions for any British soldier alleged to have broken the law during their deployment.

The UK High Commission in Kenya told the BBC it intended to co-operate with the inquiry.

Memusi Lochede testified that British officials promised to look after her 22-year-old daughter Chaula Memusi, who is in a wheelchair after allegedly being injured by a British army truck in a hit-and-run incident in January 2019.

“They sent a representative to tell me that they don’t want a court case and that they would take care of my daughter,” the 45-year-old mother told one of the hearings held outdoors under a marquee in Archers Post, where the British army conducts infantry exercises.

Under an agreement with the Kenyan government, up to six infantry battalions per year carry out eight-week exercises in Kenya.

Ms Lochede said they paid for her daughter’s hospital bills for two years, but have failed to pay compensation as promised.

Lino Lemaramba told the BBC he witnessed the accident and was shocked to see the British army truck drive away after the collision. He stopped to help Ms Memusi.

“It was a Batuk truck, I tried to stop it but it kept moving,” he alleged.

“It was a tragic scene, blood all over, her bones were crushed… people were afraid to touch her,” he said, describing how difficult it was to lift her into his pick-up and take her to the hospital.