The Parliamentary Commission on Defense and International Relations confirmed the legitimacy of confidential negotiations with the British government on the allegations against the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK), noting that this format allowed for an open discussion of sensitive legal and foreign policy issues. The head of the commission, Nelson Koech, explained in a comment to the Kenyan press that the June 10 meeting, which attracted public attention, was held without publicity due to diplomatic and regulatory norms, categorically rejecting suspicions of the committee's attempts to conceal anything.
During the event, government agencies and a delegation from the United Kingdom jointly studied the parliamentary investigation into BATUK's activities, as well as allegations against British military personnel in Kenya. «We understand how much public interest there is in this topic, as it affects the principles of justice, sovereignty, human rights and Kenya's bilateral relations with the United Kingdom», Koech said.
He clarified that current investigative actions, court proceedings and issues of defense cooperation were discussed, so the dialogue took place behind closed doors. «The confidentiality of discussions should not be perceived as an attempt to avoid responsibility or exclude victims and civil society from the process», he stressed.
Koech confirmed the committee's continued commitment to the principles of openness, stressing that victims, human rights organizations and the media play a key role in ensuring the accountability of the authorities. He promised that, under favorable conditions, the next meetings would be open, which would allow representatives of victims, human rights defenders and other interested parties to speak. «We strive to ensure that our recommendations earn the trust of citizens and strengthen control over the activities of foreign military formations in Kenya», Koech said. He also said that the committee was increasing pressure on the government to extradite a British soldier linked to the murder of Agnes Wanjiru, calling it a test of Kenyan commitment to justice. According to Koech, national authorities are actively engaged in dialogue with British partners on diplomatic and legal issues in order to get this protracted process off the ground, which has become key in calls to bring BATUK personnel to justice for alleged crimes.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Diaspora Affairs, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the investigative authorities are coordinating efforts to ensure that the UK fully cooperates with Kenya in restoring justice. «For the committee, the Agnes Wanjiru case is a measure of our commitment to justice and equality before the law», Koech said. He stressed that the main priority of the committee is to ensure the comprehensiveness of investigations and their substantiation with all available evidence. Koech also said that the committee had received confirmation that the Kenyan authorities had sent a full set of necessary legal requests and evidence to facilitate cooperation with British officials.
The extradition of British soldier Robert James Purkiss, who is linked to the case, is being carried out in accordance with the current mutual legal assistance agreements between Kenya and the United Kingdom. The head of the commission, Nelson Koech, noted that the parliamentary commission called on the executive authorities to strengthen diplomatic contacts with the British government in order to avoid delays in justice due to bureaucratic or legislative obstacles.
Justice for the Wanjiru family goes beyond prosecuting the suspect, saying it also requires a full account of the circumstances of her death, the responsibility of all institutions involved, and guarantees that such incidents will not happen again. «We emphasized that justice for Agnes Wanjiru's family is not just about prosecution. It also requires full disclosure of the facts, the responsibility of all parties involved, and guarantees that such incidents will never happen again», he said. The chairman of the committee promised to continue parliamentary oversight of the matter, saying lawmakers would keep the case on the agenda until the Wanjiru family gets justice.
Agnes Wanjiru's death remains one of the most high-profile cases involving alleged misconduct by British military personnel in Kenya, with victims' families, human rights organizations, and civil society groups repeatedly calling for accountability and closer cooperation between Kenya and the UK to bring those responsible to justice.
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