Thousands in Kenya will receive compensation after a protracted legal battle concerning a devastating fire linked to British military training activities.
UK Compensates Kenyans Affected by Military-Induced Fire
UK Compensates Kenyans Affected by Military-Induced Fire
The UK government reaches a settlement with thousands of Kenyans after a fire caused by military training devastated local land and livelihoods.
The UK government has announced its agreement to compensate thousands of Kenyans affected by a fire caused during a military training exercise in March 2021. This settlement comes after a lengthy legal struggle concerning 7,723 claimants who reported losses of property and medical issues due to the fire, which reportedly ravaged nearly a quarter of the Lolldaiga conservancy in the Rift Valley.
A representative from the British High Commission in Nairobi expressed that the incident was "extremely regrettable," highlighting that the UK had invested significant time and resources to address the claims. Although the government has not disclosed the total compensation amount, the attorney representing the victims noted it to be around £2.9 million.
Attorney Kevin Kubai termed the settlement as the "best possible outcome," despite some clients expressing dissatisfaction with the compensatory amounts, viewing them as inadequate in light of their losses. He acknowledged that pursuing a prolonged litigation could have extended the process by nearly seven additional years, primarily due to the challenges in procuring necessary evidence after four years.
Reports indicate that no medical records were available to substantiate claims of health issues resulting from smoke inhalation due to the fire, and many individuals had exposure from burning firewood in their homes. The UK Ministry of Defence concluded in 2022 that the fire was likely instigated by a knocked-over camp stove during military activities in the conservancy. The assessment estimated damage to approximately 7,000 acres (around 2,800 hectares) of private property, although it determined no community land was directly impacted.
Legal arguments highlighted environmental damage in nearby communities due to smoke emissions and property destruction caused by stampedes of frightened wildlife. The British government has also contributed to restoring the charred areas while maintaining military exercises in the conservancy.
Spanning about 49,000 acres of undulating bushland and set against the scenic backdrop of Mount Kenya, the Lolldaiga conservancy is part of the historically contested Laikipia plateau, where British colonial land seizures have led to ongoing land disputes.
Located just 70 kilometers (45 miles) from the Lewa conservancy, which gained fame as the site of Prince William's proposal to Kate Middleton, the region also houses the newly renovated Nyati Barracks— a £70 million facility supporting the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK). BATUK engages thousands of British troops annually, benefiting the Kenyan economy with millions of pounds despite facing scrutiny over incidents involving soldiers, including alleged fatal hit-and-run accidents and sexual exploitation of local women.
