Laikipia East Member of Parliament Festus Mwangi Kiunjuri has outlined three conditions he says Kenya should not compromise on as negotiations continue over a new Defence Cooperation Agreement governing the operations of the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK).

Speaking to the media on Saturday, July 25, 2026, Kiunjuri said that any renewed agreement with the United Kingdom must guarantee that British troops operating in Kenya are subject to Kenyan laws, that crimes committed on Kenyan soil are prosecuted in Kenyan courts, and that local businesses benefit directly from military training activities through fair access to supply contracts.

The legislator insisted the demands were reasonable and reflected Kenya’s sovereign interests rather than an attempt to strain relations with Britain.

“We support our people and the government in demanding that if one lives, trains and operates in Kenya, they respect Kenyan law,” Kiunjuri said.

“If a crime is committed on Kenyan soil, justice must be delivered in a Kenyan courtroom under Kenyan jurisdiction.”

Push for greater economic benefits

Beyond legal accountability, the veteran politician has urged negotiators to ensure communities hosting BATUK training exercises receive greater economic returns from the military partnership.

The lawmaker has argued that businesses in Laikipia and other training regions should be given equitable opportunities to supply goods and services to the British military instead of being excluded from procurement opportunities.

“Training on our land must mean investing in our communities. Local businesses in training regions deserve fair access to supply chains and opportunities, not to be sidelined,” he said.

Kiunjuri has maintained that Kenya’s position should be anchored on justice, national dignity and economic fairness while preserving cordial diplomatic relations with the United Kingdom.

“As leaders, our primary duty is to safeguard the dignity of our people, the integrity of our laws and the vitality of our local economy,” he added.

BATUK deal yet to be finalised

The MP’s remarks come amid reports that negotiations between Kenya and the United Kingdom over a renewed BATUK Defence Cooperation Agreement have stalled after Britain reportedly expressed reservations over some of Kenya’s proposed conditions.

Kiunjuri dismissed suggestions that the delay reflected a political standoff, saying the outstanding issues revolve around protecting Kenya’s sovereignty and ensuring fairness for host communities.

“That the Kenya BATUK Defence Cooperation Agreement remains unsigned does not signal an arbitrary political conflict,” he said.

“It is a fundamental matter of justice, national dignity and economic fairness,” he concluded.

BATUK has maintained a long-standing presence in Laikipia, where its activities support businesses including hotels, transport operators, restaurants and local suppliers. However, its operations have also attracted sustained scrutiny over accountability for offences involving British soldiers, the distribution of economic benefits to host communities and the unresolved killing of Agnes Wanjiru.

Wanjiru disappeared in Nanyuki in 2012 before her body was later recovered from a septic tank at a hotel, a case that continues to feature prominently in calls for stronger legal accountability within any future BATUK agreement.