NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 9- Two weeks after the British Army training in Laikipia County caused a fire that burnt down 12,000 acres, the United Kingdom Chief of Defence Staff General Sir Nick Carter visited the country, for a 2-day official visit.
There were reports that the fire also killed 5 elephants including a calf, but the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) denied the claims saying no carcasses were sighted at the scene upon an assessment.
The Ministry of Defence and that of Environment have never commented publicly on the issue despite an outcry due to the extent of damage caused to the ecosystem.
The issue was also not included in a statement published by the Kenya Defence Forces on their website.
According to the KDF, the General arrived in Kenya on Tuesday April 6, engaging in bilateral talks with Chief of the Defence Forces General Robert Kibochi, at the Defence Headquarters in Nairobi.
He inspected a Guard of Honor mounted by the 9th Battalion Kenya Riffles before the two engaged in bilateral talks “regarding cooperation between militaries of the two nations.”
“The CDF was accompanied by the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) Service Commanders.”
Still on April 6, Gen Sir Nick delivered a lecture on International Security Dynamics at the National Defence College, hosted by the Commandant, Lieutenant General Adan Mulata.
The following day on April 7, General Carter concluded his tour by visiting the British Army Training Unit in Kenya – BATUK in Nanyuki where he was briefed on the joint military training and exercises that the UK troops partake while in Kenya.
Thousands of British troops are trained in Kenya.
There are 230 military personnel permanently based in Kenya to train visiting UK troops and Kenyan forces.
Most are part of the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK).
Untouchable: Kenyan Authorities, Environmentalists silent after a fire started by British army killed elephants
The British High Commission said investigations have commenced following the “unfortunate” fire incident.
“Investigations are ongoing into the fire during a UK-led exercise. Our priority is to urgently assist the local community – we are putting all resources into containing the fire and working closely with the Kenyan authorities to manage the situation,” the High Commission said.
British High Commissioner to Kenya Jane Marriot further said, “We’re really sorry for what has happened, doing all we can to mitigate the circumstances and put in place measures to make sure it never happens again.”
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