UK TO PAY KENYANS KSH 520 MILLION FOR FOREST FIRES CAUSES BY SOLDIERS IN KENYA

The UK has agreed to pay Ksh520 million (about $4 million) in compensation to thousands of Kenyans affected by a 2021 forest fire caused during military training in Laikipia County.
The settlement follows a four-year legal battle involving 7,723 victims who lost property, endured health complications, and reported environmental damage after the blaze destroyed more than 10,000 acres in the Lolldaiga Conservancy.
The fire is believed to have started accidentally during a British military training exercise. The British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) posted a video at the time showing its officers battling the blaze, in which it claimed the community and wildlife had been kept safe.
The payout has been classified as an “ex gratia” settlement, meaning the UK government has not accepted liability for the fire.
It is a voluntary payment intended to resolve the case without further court proceedings. While many welcomed the decision as a rare legal victory against the British Army in Kenya, most victims expressed frustration over the small amounts they are set to receive from Britain.
Each beneficiary is expected to get about Ksh22,000 ($170). Many described the sum as too little given the scale of their suffering.
Families said they lost homes, livestock, and crops, while others continue to endure lifelong health problems linked to the blaze. “It’s a success story because it’s the first time we’ve ever won a case against the British Army in Kenya, but it’s so little it’s almost nothing,” said Laikipia County MP Cate Waruguru.
“They feel that their sweat and their struggle have not borne any fruit,” she added.
Community members also pointed out that water sources in the region were polluted by the fire, worsening their living conditions.