Kenya and the United Kingdom have renewed an agreement that allows British military to train in the country.Defence Cabinet Secretary Raychelle Omamo and UK High Commissioner to Kenya Nicolas Hailey signed the pact Wednesday.
The deal ends a stalemate that had strained
diplomatic relations between the two countries.The British army has been training in Samburu and Laikipia since independence but Kenya had declined to renew the pact.
In the new agreement signed at the Defence ministry headquarters in Nairobi, British soldiers who break the law will be tried in Kenyan courts."The next step is to present the agreement to Parliament in Kenya as well as the UK. There is a long section dealing with jurisdiction.
“Soldiers will be dealt with and subject to Kenyan law and constitution. Unless those that take place on official duty. That will be referred to an inter-governmental committee," said Ms Omamo.The agreement will become effective once it is approved by parliaments of both countries.The programme is commonly referred to as British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK).
DN
