The National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations has called for enhanced defence and bilateral cooperation between Kenya and the United Kingdom during a meeting with a visiting British cross-party parliamentary delegation.
The Committee, chaired by Belgut MP Nelson Koech, met the delegation led by Fleur Anderson, a Member of the UK Foreign Affairs Select Committee and Labour MP for Putney, during their visit to the Parliament of Kenya.
Discussions focused on strengthening UK-Kenya foreign relations, parliamentary cooperation, governance, trade, security, development partnerships, and regional stability.
Speaking during the meeting, Koech underscored Kenya’s strategic importance within the East African region and the Horn of Africa, noting that the country remains a key partner to the United Kingdom in matters of trade, peace, and regional security.
“Kenya remains one of the United Kingdom’s most important strategic partners in Africa, particularly within the East African region and the Horn of Africa owing to its strategic geographical location, role in regional peace and security, and position as a gateway to regional markets under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” said Koech.
The Committee raised concerns regarding the murder of Agnes Wanjiku Wanjiru, a Kenyan citizen from Laikipia who was allegedly murdered in 2012 in circumstances linked to British soldiers attached to the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK).
Koech informed the delegation that the Committee has scheduled a meeting on June 10, 2026, to deliberate on the National Assembly’s report on the inquiry into the conduct of BATUK.
“This meeting will bring together different stakeholders including the Office of the Attorney General, the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, the Ministry of Defence, and representatives of the British High Commission. We hope to come to a conclusive agreement on this matter,” he affirmed.
On matters of trade and economic cooperation, Shinyalu MP Fred Ikana urged the United Kingdom to support Kenya’s efforts to increase exports of value-added products to the UK market and beyond.
“You are a very key and strategic partner with our country, and as we seek to enhance the trading relationships, we would want your support on our bid to ensure that we export value-added products to the UK and the region at large,” proposed Ikana.
In response, Fleur Anderson welcomed the proposal, noting that it aligns with the broader objective of increasing trade between Kenya and the United Kingdom to £3 billion by 2030.
“To see the increase in our trade between our countries is a very good thing, and I know that the aim is for 3 billion pounds by 2030 and we seem to be on track for that. That is very welcome, and all that we can do to keep that cooperation going and make sure that businesses across both of our countries strengthen will be fully supported,” she said.
The leaders also discussed a range of regional and global issues, including security stabilization efforts across Africa, the impact of the global fuel crisis on inflation and security, enhancement of support to refugee camps, and the importance of international collaboration in combating disinformation.
The British delegation also held talks with the Departmental Committee on Administration and Internal Security led by Chairperson Gabriel Tongoyo, alongside Dido Rasso and Peter Kaluma.
By Joseph Ng’ang’a
