British Army Soldiers in Kenya Found to Be Using Sex Workers Despite Ban

An investigation has revealed that some British Army soldiers are engaging with sex workers at a contentious base in Africa, despite a ban on such activities. The British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) has been the focus of scrutiny, with a report indicating that military personnel have utilized prostitutes at a "low or moderate" level. This inquiry was initiated in October of the previous year, following an earlier investigation that brought to light allegations of soldiers paying for sex with local women.

Concerns surrounding BATUK predate this recent investigation. Previously, there were questions raised about the death of Agnes Wanjiru, a local woman, who was allegedly killed in 2012 by a British soldier stationed at the base. In response to these events, the Labour party, then in opposition, called for an inquiry into Ms. Wanjiru's death, with the Shadow Defence Secretary demanding justice. The Ministry of Defence subsequently implemented a ban on armed forces members using sex workers in 2022, aiming to curb abuse and sexual exploitation within the military.

The UK Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Sir Roly Walker, stated that the Service Inquiry he commissioned confirmed that "transactional sex" persists in Kenya, albeit at a "low or moderate level." He emphasized that such behavior is unacceptable and has no place within the British Army, as it preys on vulnerable individuals and benefits those who profit from abuse and exploitation. The investigation involved four participants, including military officers, an independent advisor, and a civil servant.

Zero Tolerance to Sexual Exploitation and Abuse, was published in July 2022. The report highlighted that a significant number of instances of soldiers using sex workers occurred after the policy's publication but before full training on the policy was completed across the army. During this period, there were over seven thousand British soldiers stationed at the base. The report also noted that the majority of allegations of soldiers paying for sex were not substantiated. The army has committed to implementing the report's recommendations, including measures to facilitate the dismissal of military personnel found to have engaged with sex workers.