British soldiers caught using sex workers in Kenya despite ban

 

A British Army inquiry has found that some soldiers based in Kenya continue to use sex workers despite a clear ban on the practice. The investigation covered over two years, starting from July 2022, and examined the conduct of troops at the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk) in Nanyuki. It recorded 35 suspected cases of soldiers paying for sex, with most incidents occurring before training on the ban was made compulsory in late 2022. Nine cases happened after the training, though most allegations could not be proven.

The inquiry followed an ITV documentary in 2025 that exposed claims of sexual exploitation by British troops in Kenya. These revelations brought renewed focus to past controversies, including the 2012 killing of Agnes Wanjiru, a Kenyan woman allegedly murdered by a British soldier. Army chiefs called the conduct “at odds” with the values of the service, labelling it as exploitation that preys on vulnerable people.

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The report concluded that the level of “transactional sexual activity” among soldiers was somewhere between low and moderate, but stressed it should not be happening at all. It noted that while not out of control, the Army should treat the issue as if it were at the higher end of the scale to manage risks effectively.

The British Army already has measures in place to prevent such conduct, including regular training and “sharkwatch” patrols that deploy senior officers to monitor junior soldiers during nights out. Recommendations from the inquiry include making it easier to dismiss personnel found to have used sex workers and improving education on the ban.

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Kenyan lawmakers are also holding their own investigation into misconduct by British troops. Public hearings have heard allegations of local people being harmed, soldiers fathering children with Kenyan women and abandoning them, and other forms of abuse. In one recent case, a soldier was returned to the UK in June 2025 after being accused of rape.

Despite the controversies, the inquiry found that most residents near the Batuk camp supported its presence, though concerns over misconduct remain a serious issue for both the British Army and local communities.