British Soldiers Still Using S3x Workers in Kenya Despite Ban Inquiry

A British Army investigation has revealed that some soldiers at the British Army Training Unit Kenya (Batuk) continue to pay for sex despite a ban introduced in 2022.

The Service Inquiry, commissioned in October 2024 after an ITV exposé on soldier misconduct, found “low to moderate” levels of transactional sex among troops stationed in Nanyuki, 200km north of Nairobi. The probe examined conduct from July 2022 to early 2025, covering 7,666 soldiers who served at the base during that period.

The report documented 35 suspected cases, 26 of which occurred before mandatory training on the new rule began in November 2022, with nine reported since. Most allegations could not be proven, but the inquiry concluded that “transactional sexual activity” persists despite training, patrols, and strict rules under regulation JSP 769.

UK Chief of General Staff Gen Sir Roly Walker condemned the findings, saying:

“There is absolutely no place for sexual exploitation and abuse by people in the British Army. It preys on the vulnerable and benefits those who profit from exploitation.”

The army plans to implement recommendations from the report, including easier dismissal procedures for offenders and enhanced training.

The Batuk base has long faced controversy, notably over the unsolved 2012 killing of Kenyan woman Agnes Wanjiru, allegedly by a British soldier. Kenyan MPs are also investigating wider allegations of abuse, fathering and abandoning children, and injuries caused by British troops.

BBC