The United Kingdom is set to restart military training exercises in Kenya after a delay triggered by concerns over human rights and legal jurisdiction, according to The Washington Post.
The training had been suspended earlier this year when the UK Ministry of Defence cancelled exercises in Kenya due to a dispute over the legal powers to prosecute British soldiers involved in incidents during the drills, The Guardian reported. The cancellation followed pressure from Kenyan leaders who demanded that any new defence deal respect Kenyan laws and grant local authorities jurisdiction over British personnel accused of wrongdoing, according to the-star.co.ke.
The Washington Post reports that the resumption comes after the two governments resolved the legal framework governing the conduct of British troops on Kenyan soil. The exact terms of the agreement have not been fully disclosed, but the deal allows training to proceed while addressing the human rights concerns that prompted the initial delay.
Local communities in areas such as Nanyuki, which hosts a British Army training unit, had expressed unease over the cancellation, with the Daily Nation noting that residents worried about the economic impact of losing the military presence.
Observers will now watch whether the new legal arrangements satisfy both Kenyan sovereignty demands and UK military requirements, and whether the training resumes without further interruptions.
