Kenyan lawmakers push to strip BATUK troops of immunity in 2026 treaty review
via Tuko6 min read
Kenya's National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations is advocating for significant changes to the Defence Cooperation Agreement with the United Kingdom. The committee aims to compel personnel from the British Army Training Unit Kenya BATUK to cooperate with Kenyan investigations and parliamentary inquiries, particularly as the treaty is set for review in 2026. Committee Chairperson Nelson Koech stated that the revised pact must eliminate legal loopholes that have allowed BATUK personnel to use diplomatic immunity to avoid appearing before Parliament. The push for accountability stems from public concerns over incidents involving British military personnel, including the killing of Agnes Wanjiru. Proposed changes include requiring British military personnel to appear before parliamentary committees, comply with judicial proceedings for criminal allegations, and facilitate access to evidence during investigations. The committee also seeks clear procedures for testimony requests and defined circumstances for waiving or limiting diplomatic immunity in serious cases. Koech emphasized that diplomatic privileges should not obstruct justice or parliamentary scrutiny, and that future cooperation must reflect transparency, accountability, and respect for Kenya's constitutional institutions. Parliament intends to play an active role in the review process to ensure Kenya's negotiating position reflects public concerns and lessons learned from past shortcomi
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