Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

The British Army Training Unit in Kenya (Batuk) has addressed the use of chemical weapons in training amid fear by environmentalists and pastoralist communities in Laikipia and Samburu counties.

Batuk uses white phosphorus during military drills in Kenya. The chemical is used for night illumination during training.

White phosphorus is not banned internationally as a weapon though it can cause fire to rain down on targets, inflicting indiscriminate damage.

International laws require the chemical to be used in deserted areas not occupied by civilians.

The use of the chemical has raised concerns that it might cause a hazardous effect on the livestock of the pastoralist communities residing in the areas where the British military conducts its training.

Safety standards

Major Adrian Weale, Batuk’s community and media liaison officer, on Monday, November 14, 2022, told journalists that locals residing in areas bordering training grounds had nothing to fear because all the required safety standards had been put in place.

“We do train with it (white phosphorus ) when conditions allow. If it is very dry and windy, we do not use it because it can start a fire. In terms of its environmental impact, it is no different from other high explosives used by other militaries across the world,” Major Weale said.

“We have nothing to hide because we do not have any secrecy or sinister [motive]. We come here to train jointly with our KDF partners. We try to minimise negative impact to the environment by using simulation as much as possible. When things go wrong, we clean up ourselves,” he added.

Batuk

Batuk is a permanent training support unit based mainly in Nanyuki. The UK deploys many short-term military training teams to help build the capacity of its military forces.

Under an agreement with the Kenyan government, up to six British infantry battalions per year carry out eight-week exercises in Kenya.

The British soldiers’ training base in Nanyuki offers permanent employment to over 550 Kenyans, while about 1,500 are casual employees.