Britain cancels Kenya military training over licence issue

Britain has cancelled one of its annual military training exercises in Kenya after failing to obtain a licence from the Kenyan government, the British defence ministry said. Kenya hosts a permanent base for the British Army Training Unit Kenya in Laikipia, about 200 kilometres north of Nairobi.

The ministry said the licences needed for training in Laikipia later this year had not been received. It said the exercise has been moved to another country, but did not name the new location.

The ministry did not give a reason for the failure to obtain the licence. The Kenyan government did not respond to AFP questions on the matter. The British ministry said the relocation does not affect the broader defence partnership between the two countries.

Kenya became independent from Britain in 1963. Their defence agreement allows several thousand British troops to train in Kenya each year. The British base has also faced controversy over high-profile murder and rape cases involving British soldiers.