While the governments of many African countries are distancing themselves from the Western military presence, the administration of President William Ruto has chosen a different path. In early May, Kenya ratified a defense pact with France that grants French soldiers diplomatic privileges and legal protection, including immunity from local prosecution for offenses committed while on duty.
For many, this agreement is reminiscent of unresolved issues related to the British Army's training unit in Kenya (BATUK). Mau Mau activists and veterans point to the death in 2012 of Agnes Wanjiru, a Kenyan woman who was found in a cesspool after being seen with British soldiers in Nanyuki. More than a decade later, not a single British soldier has been brought to justice, which critics say creates a «gap in impunity».
James Nyuguna, CEO of the Mau Mau War Veterans Association, expressed deep disappointment with the government's position. «The government's failure to resolve the BATUK case serves as a warning about what to expect from the French», Nyuguna said. He argued that providing such protection to foreign forces undermines the rule of law and makes local communities vulnerable to abuse. Nyuguna also warned that meeting the military interests of the West could make Kenya a target for retaliation from hostile actors and complicate diplomatic relations with other African and Arab countries that oppose the Western military presence on the continent.
France's interest in Kenya appears to be a strategic pivot. Having lost its military footholds in the Sahel, Paris is looking for a new foothold in East Africa. France's foreign direct investment in Kenya has tripled over the past decade to about 525 million euros, indicating that the partnership is based on significant economic interests.
The focus remains on the debate over whether the Government prefers foreign alliances over the security and sovereignty of its citizens.
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