BATUK: The home of the British Army's largest contingent of soldiers in Africa
BATUK – British Army Training Unit Kenya – was created in 2008, although the British Army has had a training organisation of some form in Kenya since 1963.
Today, BATUK administers and facilitates British Army access to the large number of training areas made available by the Kenyan authorities.
Under an agreement with the Kenyan government, up to six infantry battalions per year can carry out eight-week exercises in the country.
Originally based out of Nairobi, a new site at Nanyuki, which is closer to the training areas, opened in 2013.
The site at the foothills of Mount Kenya then underwent a £70m investment and was completed in 2019, shortly before the pandemic hit.
It wasn't until 2021 when then-Defence Secretary Ben Wallace visited that it was declared officially open.
The new purpose-built infrastructure included a new training headquarters, welfare facilities, a gym, 158 single living accommodation and 1,400 transit accommodation bed spaces, a combined mess, finance building and offices.
Around 300 soldiers are now based at BATUK's main Nanyuki site – joined by just over 200 family members.
There are more than 1,200 permanent staff – 79% of them Kenyan – with more local staff hired for major training exercises.
In May 2024, a public inquiry was held into allegations of human rights violations dating back a number of years by British troops in Kenya.
Today, BATUK works hard to engage with the local community.
Both deployed personnel and family members engage in numerous community projects, from teaching children to clean their teeth to empowering women and helping with local wildlife initiatives.
Deployments to Kenya range from three months to three years, and there are often vacancies.
Those based at BATUK say a posting there comes with unique opportunities, which include adventure training, wildlife excursions and volunteering opportunities.
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