The British High Commission has clarified that no formal request was ever issued for senior officials from the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) to appear before the Kenyan parliamentary committee investigating alleged misconduct, refuting claims that the officers deliberately ignored the summons.

A spokesperson for the High Commission said on Wednesday that “Neither the British High Commission, UK Ministry of Defence, nor the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) has received a formal invitation to appear before the Kenya National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations.”

The spokesperson added that discussions with Kenyan authorities are ongoing to determine how BATUK can provide information in support of the inquiry.

“We continue to discuss with the Government of Kenya and the DIFRC how best to provide information in support of the inquiry,” the statement read.

The clarification followed accusations from the committee chair, Belgut MP Nelson Koech, who said BATUK officials failed to attend a scheduled session on Tuesday, August 12. Koech raised concerns over alleged crimes committed by British soldiers, including illegal relationships resulting in children.

“There are children born out of illegal relationships with British soldiers. This House was reluctant to pass the Defence Cooperation Agreement, so in the eyes of this committee, BATUK are hostile witnesses,” Koech said.

“He warned that Parliament could compel attendance through fines or arrests if the officials continued to be absent. “We can have them arrested and compelled to appear before it, or impose a fine.”

Only Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya attended the session, while BATUK representatives were absent. Koech said the unit would be given another chance to appear before the committee.

The British High Commission emphasised the importance of the defence relationship between the two countries.

“The UK-Kenya defence partnership is one of the great strengths of our relationship, and our joint training and collaboration with the Kenyan Defence Forces are keeping both Kenyan and British people safe,” the spokesperson said.

The parliamentary committee is investigating multiple allegations against BATUK, including corruption, abuse of power, and human rights violations.

Among the cases under review is the 2012 killing of Agnes Wanjiru, whose body was found in a hotel septic tank in Nanyuki two months after her disappearance.

Witnesses reported seeing her with British soldiers prior to her death, but no one has been prosecuted more than a decade later.

Recent claims highlighted in an ITV documentary accuse BATUK soldiers of sexual abuse, including rape of girls as young as 13, and paying for sex.

Victims have appeared before Parliament describing physical injuries and neglect. One woman, permanently disabled after being hit by a BATUK vehicle, said her medical bills were initially covered but later stalled.

“They sent a representative to tell me that they don’t want a court case and that they would take care of my daughter,” she told the BBC.

Other victims described severe trauma and frustration over the lack of justice, alleging that some cases were quietly dropped or ignored.