In a significant resolution, the UK government has agreed to compensate thousands of Kenyans affected by a fire caused during a military training exercise in 2021, concluding a protracted legal dispute involving thousands of claimants who reported property losses and health issues.
UK Settles Compensation for Kenyans Affected by Military Training Fire
UK Settles Compensation for Kenyans Affected by Military Training Fire
UK government reaches settlement for Kenyans impacted by a fire from a military exercise, offering compensation amidst a lengthy legal battle.
The UK government has reached an agreement to pay compensation to thousands of Kenyans affected by a devastating fire linked to a British military training exercise nearly four years ago. Following a lengthy legal battle involving 7,723 claimants who reported losses and health complications due to the fire that erupted in Lolldaiga conservancy, the UK government settled the claims out of court.
A representative from the British High Commission in Nairobi expressed that the incident was "extremely regrettable" and that the UK put “considerable time, effort, and resources” into resolving the claims. Although the British government has not disclosed the exact amount paid out in compensation, reports indicate that the settlement may total around £2.9 million according to an attorney involved in the case.
Attorney Kevin Kubai characterized the agreement as the "best possible outcome," even as his clients voiced concerns regarding inadequately small compensation amounts relative to their losses. He emphasized that continuing litigation could have dragged on for another seven years, creating significant challenges due to the loss of evidence over time.
Kubai noted the difficulties faced by his clients, particularly in proving health-related claims stemming from smoke inhalation due to the fire, as many lacked medical documentation and traditionally used firewood for cooking. In 2022, the UK Ministry of Defence indicated that the fire likely resulted from a camp stove tipped over during training exercises in the conservancy. The incident reportedly damaged around 7,000 acres of private land but did not affect community land directly.
The legal action highlighted environmental damage experienced by surrounding communities from smoke and loss of property driven by stampeding wild animals fleeing the fire. Despite the incident, military exercises continue in the Lolldaiga conservancy, which spans about 49,000 acres of hilly bushland, while the UK government has been assisting with the restoration of the burned areas.
Located just 70km from the Lewa conservancy—where Prince William famously proposed to Kate Middleton in 2010—the Lolldaiga conservancy also features the Nyati Barracks, a £70 million facility used for training British troops. The British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) conducts large-scale operations in the region, contributing tens of millions of pounds annually to the Kenyan economy. However, the presence of British troops has not been without controversy, facing allegations ranging from hit-and-runs to sexual exploitation.
A representative from the British High Commission in Nairobi expressed that the incident was "extremely regrettable" and that the UK put “considerable time, effort, and resources” into resolving the claims. Although the British government has not disclosed the exact amount paid out in compensation, reports indicate that the settlement may total around £2.9 million according to an attorney involved in the case.
Attorney Kevin Kubai characterized the agreement as the "best possible outcome," even as his clients voiced concerns regarding inadequately small compensation amounts relative to their losses. He emphasized that continuing litigation could have dragged on for another seven years, creating significant challenges due to the loss of evidence over time.
Kubai noted the difficulties faced by his clients, particularly in proving health-related claims stemming from smoke inhalation due to the fire, as many lacked medical documentation and traditionally used firewood for cooking. In 2022, the UK Ministry of Defence indicated that the fire likely resulted from a camp stove tipped over during training exercises in the conservancy. The incident reportedly damaged around 7,000 acres of private land but did not affect community land directly.
The legal action highlighted environmental damage experienced by surrounding communities from smoke and loss of property driven by stampeding wild animals fleeing the fire. Despite the incident, military exercises continue in the Lolldaiga conservancy, which spans about 49,000 acres of hilly bushland, while the UK government has been assisting with the restoration of the burned areas.
Located just 70km from the Lewa conservancy—where Prince William famously proposed to Kate Middleton in 2010—the Lolldaiga conservancy also features the Nyati Barracks, a £70 million facility used for training British troops. The British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) conducts large-scale operations in the region, contributing tens of millions of pounds annually to the Kenyan economy. However, the presence of British troops has not been without controversy, facing allegations ranging from hit-and-runs to sexual exploitation.
