The UK government has agreed to pay compensation to thousands of Kenyans affected by a devastating fire caused by a British military training exercise in 2021. The out-of-court settlement follows a protracted legal battle in which 7,723 claimants said they lost property and suffered health complications after the blaze swept through the Lolldaiga conservancy in Kenya’s Rift Valley.
A spokesperson from the British High Commission in Nairobi confirmed that the UK “accepts responsibility for the fire and that is why compensation has been paid”, describing the settlement as both “generous and fair” and based on a rigorous assessment of claims. While the exact figure has not been disclosed by the British government, lawyers representing the victims revealed the amount was £2.9 million.
Despite the payout, many victims have expressed disappointment, arguing the sums received were far too small compared to the damage and losses suffered. Their lawyer, Kevin Kubai, acknowledged the frustrations but described the settlement as “the best possible outcome”, noting that pursuing litigation could have taken another seven years, with much of the evidence already lost after four years. He also admitted that his clients lacked sufficient medical records to prove health damage from smoke inhalation, particularly as many already faced smoke exposure from using firewood for cooking.
The UK Ministry of Defence had earlier said the fire was likely caused by a camp stove knocked over during the training exercise, destroying about 7,000 acres (2,800 hectares) of private land but no community land. Legal arguments also included claims of environmental damage, property destruction, and wildlife stampedes triggered by the blaze.
Since the incident, the British government has supported restoration efforts in the conservancy, although military exercises continue in the area. The Lolldaiga conservancy, a 49,000-acre stretch of hilly bushland with panoramic views of Mount Kenya, sits in Laikipia plateau—a region historically marked by colonial-era land seizures that continue to fuel disputes today.
The area also holds symbolic significance, being just 70km from the Lewa conservancy where Prince William proposed to Kate Middleton in 2010, and close to the £70 million Nyati Barracks, home to the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK). BATUK brings thousands of British troops annually for harsh environment training and contributes tens of millions of pounds to the Kenyan economy.
However, alongside its economic impact, BATUK has faced years of controversy over the conduct of some soldiers, with allegations ranging from fatal hit-and-runs to murder and sexual exploitation of Kenyan women.
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