Kenya: 35 UK Soldiers under investigation for using sex workers and sexual abuse

A special British military investigation conducted from July 2022 to late 2024 has revealed that 35 soldiers stationed at the Nanyuki training camp in Kenya are suspected of paying women for sex, in violation of both Kenyan and UK laws.

According to the investigation report, these incidents occurred despite a 2022 directive that strictly prohibited the payment for sexual services by soldiers deployed overseas.

The findings also indicate that some soldiers were allegedly involved in unlawful acts, including the sexual abuse of women. This led to a deeper probe into their conduct, launched in October 2024.

The UK military has faced repeated allegations of misconduct in Kenya, including the high-profile case of Agnes Wanjiru, a 21-year-old Kenyan woman who was last seen alive in 2012 with British soldiers. Her body was later discovered in a septic tank at a hotel near the Nanyuki camp.

UK Chief of the General Staff, Gen. Roly Walker, strongly condemned the reported actions, stressing that the armed forces must always uphold the highest standards of conduct.

“There is no place for sexual abuse committed by a British soldier. Such actions violate human rights, target the vulnerable, and are rooted in exploitation and human trafficking,” Walker said.

He added that all recommendations from the investigation report will be implemented to ensure such incidents do not happen again.