The unresolved death of Agnes Wanjiru in 2012 at the hands of a British soldier has sparked an inquiry into the conduct of British Army training units in Kenya's Nanyuki region.
This incident has provided an opportunity for Kenyan politicians to scrutinize the activities of the British Army in the country. The inquiry aims to shed light on the long history of impunity and secrecy surrounding the military pact between Kenya and Britain.
Prior to Wanjiru's murder becoming public, British troops had faced accusations of rape, murder, environmental damage, and the presence of unexploded ordnances in military training fields.
In some cases, the soldiers opted for out-of-court settlements and compensation payments to victims, while displaying a sense of impunity.
The upcoming investigation by the National Assembly's Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee will delve into British Army activities in Laikipia, Isiolo, and Samburu military fields.
However, the committee faces the challenge of unearthing information due to the long history and secrecy surrounding these activities.
For the past 60 years, controversies have surrounded British troops in Kenya. Initially, Britain aimed to establish a permanent military base, but this plan was downgraded to training units.
The parliamentary committee will examine this history in an attempt to unravel the root causes of impunity among British troops in Kenya.
Records show that in the late 1950s, Britain intended to build an army base in Kahawa, envisioning the stationing of troops there even after Kenya's independence.
However, this sparked a contentious issue, and African members of the Legislative Council raised concerns. They emphasized the importance of Kenya's positive independence and neutrality in global power struggles, opposing the establishment of British bases.
Eventually, the Kahawa base did not survive as a British military barracks, and the buildings were handed over to form Kenyatta University.
The opposition to British bases was driven by the desire to eliminate vestiges of colonialism and prevent their use in suppressing nationalist revolts in remaining colonies.
Following independence in 1963, negotiations between Kenya and Britain led to the handover of Templer Barracks in Kahawa to Kenya.
However, a mutiny within Lanet Barracks in January 1964 caused Jomo Kenyatta to reconsider the removal of British troops. The mutiny was swiftly quelled by the British forces, indicating that Kenya still relied on them for protection.
In June 1964, a Memorandum of Intention and Understanding was signed, granting Britain some influence over Kenya's military affairs.
This agreement allowed British troops to train in Kenya twice a year and played a significant role in shaping Kenya's military structure. However, it also raised concerns about the extent of British involvement.