BATUK Cleared to Resume Planned Military Exercise in Kenya

The British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) will continue with its planned military exercise in Kenya after it received the necessary licence approval from the United Kingdom government.

UK government spokesperson confirmed that the required authorisation had been granted; this paves the way for the exercise to proceed as it was earlier scheduled.

This approval comes against the backdrop of ongoing defence and military training cooperation between Kenya and the United Kingdom.

The training is aimed at enhancing operational readiness and strengthening defence collaboration between the two countries.

Licencing Process

Clearance comes after a licencing process which was conducted by the government of UK before the planned exercise should begin taking place.

While confirming this development the UK spokes person did not provide any details regarding the scale of this exercise and the number of troops to participate or the specific activities.

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BATUK operates under a defence cooperation agreement which is between Kenya and the UK and regularly conducts military training in areas across the country.

Exercises usually involve a range of activities which include field training, tactical operations and even collaboration with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).

BATUK In Kenya

The unit has previously stated that its presence in Kenya supports military preparedness while contributing to local communities through employment opportunities and community development initiatives.

However BATUK’s operations have at times attracted public scrutiny over environmental concerns, compensation claims alongside allegations which are linked to some of its training activities.

Kenyan and British authorities have on several occasions maintained that such concerns are handled through the existing legal and bilateral mechanisms.

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Latest approval means that the military exercise will now proceed after the completion of UK’s licencing requirements according to their spokesperson.

The governments of Kenya and UK have continued to describe their defence partnership as a longstanding collaboration that is focused on security cooperation, capacity building and joint training between the two countries.

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The British Army PHOTO/Al Jazeera