Former Deputy President and Deputy President aspirant Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto and some MPs of soliciting a bribe from the United Kingdom to approve the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) exercise in Nanyuki.

The planned military training exercise, scheduled for September 2026 and involving 1,500 British soldiers, was recently cancelled after failing to secure necessary approvals.

Bribery Allegations

Gachagua alleged that the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations, chaired by Nelson Koech, a close ally of President Ruto, demanded Ksh 3 billion from the UK Ministry of Defence to renew the BATUK contract.

  • According to Gachagua, the MPs told the British delegation to keep Ksh 1 billion for themselves and give Ksh 2 billion to President Ruto.
  • The money was purportedly intended to fund President Ruto's 2027 re-election campaign.
  • The UK reportedly rejected the demand, questioning the lack of accountability and purpose behind the payment.

Impact on Nanyuki

The cancellation threatens the economic vitality of Nanyuki town, which hosts the BATUK base. Gachagua warned that the town would suffer commercially and lose the benefits of counter-terrorism cooperation provided by the British forces.

Official Reasons for Cancellation

While Gachagua's bribery claims remain unverified, other reports attribute the cancellation to unresolved issues over legal jurisdiction, accountability, and the terms governing the deployment of British troops in Kenya.