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Ignore 'rumour', we're not leaving Kenya, British Army says

UK has dismissed reports it is likely to withdraw its soldiers from training in Nanyuki following a land dispute. It had earlier been reported that the British Army was considering pulling out of Kenya and that the decision would be taken later in November. This was after Chief of General Staff General Nick Carter, born in Kenya, visits the 3rd battalion of the Paratroop Regiment that is presently training at Archers Post.

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by The Star

News22 January 2019 - 13:22
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Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson talks to Kenyan soldiers training alongside the British at British Training Unit Kenya, popularly known as BATUK, in Ole Naishu near Nanyuki in northern Kenya, March 17, 2017. /REUTERS

UK has dismissed reports it is likely to withdraw its soldiers from training in Nanyuki following a land dispute.

It had earlier been reported that the British Army was considering pulling out of Kenya and that the decision would be taken later in November.

This was after Chief of General Staff General Nick Carter, born in Kenya, visits the 3rd battalion of the Paratroop Regiment that is presently training at Archers Post.

Via Twitter on Friday,

British Army Training Unit Kenya said:

"Some of you will have read reports that we might leave Kenya. These are just rumors and are untrue as far as we are concerned."

The report said the British government would likely give Kenya a 'yes or no' ultimatum on whether they want British military cooperation, with a final decision to be made in London by the end of the month.

It was said the crisis resulted from KDF's insistence that the British Army should not train on any private land and should restrict its operations to the land at Archers Post.

The problem initially emerged in April when the KDF instructed the British to cancel all leases with private landowners.

BATUK spends around £50 million a year (Sh6.75 billion) in Laikipia, £3 million (Sh405 million) of which is spent on leases with ranches and rent to landlords in Nanyuki.

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