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An investigation by the British Army has found that some soldiers stationed at its controversial training base in Kenya are still paying for sex, despite strict rules banning the practice.
The inquiry looked at the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk), which is based near Nanyuki, about 200km north of Nairobi. It covered over two years of activity, starting from July 2022. The investigation was launched in October 2024 after a UK television documentary by ITV alleged that some soldiers were using local sex workers.
The British Ministry of Defence banned its troops from paying for sex anywhere in the world in 2022. The ban was part of efforts to stop sexual exploitation and abuse by military personnel.
However, the inquiry found that “transactional sex” was still happening at Batuk, though at what it described as a “low to moderate” level. Out of 7,666 soldiers who served at the base during the investigation period, 35 cases of suspected use of sex workers were identified. Most of these took place before all soldiers had received formal training on the ban in late 2022. Nine cases occurred after the training, though many allegations could not be proven.
In addition, the UK Foreign Office confirmed there are fewer than five more cases under investigation for incidents that happened after the inquiry ended.
UK Chief of General Staff Gen Sir Roly Walker condemned the findings, saying there is “absolutely no place for sexual exploitation and abuse” in the British Army. He described such behaviour as preying on vulnerable people and going against the values of a soldier.
The report was put together by a panel of four – two serving officers, a civil servant, and an independent adviser. It reviewed not only soldiers’ conduct but also how well the army’s systems were working to enforce the ban.
Despite measures already in place – including regular training and “sharkwatch” patrols where senior officers monitor younger troops during nights out – the report concluded that paying for sex was still occurring. It recommended further action, such as making it easier to dismiss soldiers caught breaking the rules and introducing more training.
The Batuk base has been at the centre of controversy for years. In 2012, a Kenyan woman named Agnes Wanjiru was allegedly killed by a British soldier stationed there. Her body was found in a septic tank near a hotel where she had been seen with soldiers. The case sparked public outrage in Kenya and the UK, and other allegations of misconduct have surfaced since.
In 2021, the Sunday Times reported on her death, leading to renewed calls for accountability. Kenyan Members of Parliament have also been investigating wider claims against Batuk troops, including allegations of injuries to locals, fathering children with Kenyan women and abandoning them, and other misconduct.
In June 2025, a soldier at Batuk was sent back to the UK after being accused of rape, further fuelling tensions over the base’s presence in Kenya.
Despite these issues, the Service Inquiry noted that most local residents they spoke to were supportive of Batuk’s presence, citing economic and security benefits to the area.
The British Army has said it will implement the report’s recommendations in full as it continues to work toward ending sexual exploitation by its personnel.