National Assembly's Defence committee chairperson Nelson Koech/COURTESY
National Assembly Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee chairperson Nelson Koech has defended Parliament's decision to subject a proposed Kenya-United Kingdom defence cooperation agreement to greater scrutiny.
He said concerns raised over alleged human rights incidents involving British troops should be addressed before the deal is ratified.
The Belgut MP said Parliament supports continued military cooperation between Kenya and the UK but maintains that accountability for reported incidents linked to training exercises in Kenya remains a critical issue.
"The human rights concerns have been issues of environmental degradation and issues of murder. These are very serious allegations, some that have been proven and some that are still under investigation," Koech said in an interview.
He said one of the most prominent cases under discussion is the death of Agnes Wanjiru, which he said has continued to cast a shadow over the long-standing defence partnership between the two countries.
"The one that became a major issue was that of Agnes Wanjiru. To date, the culprit has never been brought to book. There was a court ruling that he was supposed to have been repatriated back into the country to face trial. That has not been forthcoming," Koech said.
Koech said Parliament's focus is not to frustrate military cooperation but to ensure that foreign troops deployed in Kenya are held accountable where there are allegations linking them to criminal offences.
"The biggest issue has been accountability for the officers and troops that visit our country. That is what we are trying, as a committee, to make sure happens," he said.
His remarks come amid uncertainty over the proposed Kenya-UK defence agreement, which is yet to be ratified, and after a planned military training exercise involving the UK's Duke of Lancaster Regiment was affected as discussions between the two governments continue.
Koech acknowledged that the delay could affect bilateral military cooperation but expressed optimism that the outstanding issues could be resolved through dialogue.
"This is how relationships are built. It is about agreeing, respecting each other's constitutions, respecting human life and entering into mutual agreements that benefit both countries," he said.
He disclosed that he had personally reached out to officials at the British High Commission in Nairobi to explore ways of unlocking the stalemate.
"I have actually been reaching out personally to the team from the High Commission to see how we can unlock the situation," Koech said.
According to the MP, the Duke of Lancaster Regiment training programme, which began in September, is among the activities affected by the delay.
"We are trying as much as possible to see if there is a possibility of reversing it, and the only way is to engage and understand the sticking issues they may be uncomfortable with so that we can resolve them," he said.
Koech maintained that Kenya values its defence partnership with the United Kingdom, describing it as one built over many years and beneficial to both countries.
However, he stressed that any future cooperation must be anchored on mutual respect, accountability and adherence to the rule of law.
"We are not trying to be a hindrance. We want a framework that benefits both countries while respecting Kenya's Constitution and the rights of our people," he said.
His comments come as Parliament continues considering the proposed defence agreement, with human rights protections and legal accountability expected to remain among the key issues shaping its final decision.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has dismissed claims that the defence partnership and BATUK agreement have ended.
He said the bilateral framework remains intact, adding that the updated defence cooperation agreement is still undergoing the required parliamentary approval process.
