The UK government has reached an out-of-court settlement to compensate thousands of Kenyans affected by a fire resulting from a British military training exercise in 2021. A total of 7,723 claimants reported property loss and health complications due to the fire in the Lolldaiga conservancy, located in Kenya’s Rift Valley.
While the British High Commission in Nairobi expressed regret over the incident and stated that considerable resources were dedicated to resolving claims, the exact amount of compensation has not been officially disclosed. However, reports indicate that roughly £2.9 million was paid out. Kevin Kubai, the attorney representing the claimants, described the settlement as the best possible outcome, but some clients have voiced dissatisfaction, claiming the sums received were inadequate for their losses. Kubai noted that continuing litigation could have extended for nearly seven years, complicating the process due to the loss of evidence over time.
The fire was determined to likely have originated from a camp stove that was overturned during the training exercise. Approximately 7,000 acres of private land were reportedly damaged, while no direct impact on community land has been confirmed. Legal arguments included claims of environmental damage and property destruction resulting from stampeding wild animals due to the fire.
The British government has been involved in restoration efforts for the affected areas, and military exercises in Lolldaiga continue. The conservancy covers about 49,000 acres in the Laikipia plateau, a region with a history of land disputes stemming from colonial-era land seizures. The British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK), which conducts training in the area, is a significant contributor to the local economy, providing tens of millions of pounds annually. However, the presence of British troops has also faced scrutiny regarding alleged misconduct.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9vd3k1dpymo?at_medium=RSS&at_campaign=rss