Kenyans will receive compensation from the UK for the 2021 army drill fire
A British military drill in 2021 caused a fire that hurt people who lived near a Kenyan wildlife conservancy. On Friday, the lawyers for the plaintiffs said that the UK had agreed to pay them 2.9 million pounds ($4 million) in compensation.
Kenya and the British army work together on drills in northern Laikipia. The British army has a base in the town of Nanyuki in this area. In March 2021, the fire started in the close Lolldaiga.
In a short message to Reuters, lawyer Kelvin Kubai said, “We reached a settlement and have sent payments.” He said that over 7,000 people were given money for what he called the “smoke nuisance” that the fire caused.
People who live in the Lolldaiga area said that a British army training unit started the blaze that destroyed a lot of a nature reserve and left behind weapons that hurt people in the area.
Later, a British soldier seemed to say on social media that he started the fire. This made the British High Commissioner at the time say she was “appalled” and promise that the Royal Military Police would look into it.
On Friday, the British government said they were sorry about what happened.
A spokesperson for the British High Commission in Nairobi said in a statement, “The Lolldaiga fire was very regrettable, and the UK is aware of how long it has taken to resolve this matter and how frustrating this has been for the affected communities.”
