Belgut MP Nelson Koech has dismissed allegations by Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua that bribery demands led to the cancellation of a planned British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) exercise in Nanyuki.
Gachagua alleged that the United Kingdom cancelled the planned September 2026 military training exercise after a demand for Sh3 billion was made by individuals linked to the Kenya Kwanza administration through Members of Parliament serving in the National Assembly Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee.
“The Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Foreign Relations. The chairman is called Nelson Koech; he is Ruto's man. He told the British, ‘For us to renew the contract, we want three billion shillings,’” Gachagua claimed without providing evidence.
However, Koech, who chairs the committee, has rejected the claims, saying the renewal of the Kenya-United Kingdom Defence Cooperation Agreement is not a responsibility of Parliament but the National Executive.
"Under our Constitution and the Treaty Making and Ratification Act, No. 45 of 2012, which gives effect to Article 2(6) of the Constitution, the initiation, negotiation, conclusion and ratification of treaties and international agreements are functions of the National Executive, and not of a parliamentary committee," Koech said.
The lawmaker said the Defence Cooperation Agreement is negotiated and concluded by the government through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence, while Parliament only considers agreements submitted to it for approval.
Koech cited Section 4(1) of the Act, which places responsibility for initiating, negotiating and ratifying treaties on the national executive. He added that Section 7 requires the relevant Cabinet Secretary, in consultation with the Attorney-General, to obtain Cabinet approval before a treaty is presented to Parliament.
He further noted that Sections 8 and 9 provide that after Cabinet approval, a treaty is transmitted to the Speaker of the National Assembly, where ratification becomes a decision of the House.
The Belgut MP said the role of the Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations Committee is limited to scrutinising agreements referred to Parliament, engaging stakeholders and making recommendations to the House.
Koech said the committee conducted a two-year inquiry into BATUK’s operations in Kenya and tabled its report before the National Assembly in November 2025.
He said the report recommended that ratification of the agreement should proceed with accountability measures, including allowing Kenyan courts to handle serious offences committed by visiting troops, cooperation with Kenyan criminal investigations and parliamentary inquiries, environmental responsibilities, welfare and child-support obligations, and stronger protection for host communities.
The BATUK agreement has faced scrutiny over concerns surrounding legal jurisdiction over British personnel, immunity and accountability mechanisms for foreign forces operating on Kenyan soil.
The debate has also been linked to the murder of Agnes Wanjiru and longstanding grievances among communities in Nanyuki and Laikipia.
Koech said Kenya values its defence partnership with the United Kingdom, which has supported counter-terrorism efforts, military interoperability and defence capacity building, but insisted the relationship must be based on equality, respect for Kenyan law and accountability.
Meanwhile, Gachagua maintained that the cancellation of the planned BATUK exercise was linked to alleged bribery demands.
The exercise was expected to bring about 1,500 British soldiers to Nanyuki in September 2026.
A report by Al Jazeera on Sunday said the UK Ministry of Defence cancelled the training exercise after the required approvals were not obtained amid disagreements over defence arrangements between Kenya and the United Kingdom.
British troops have trained in Kenya for decades through BATUK, which serves as the main platform for joint exercises between the British Army and the Kenya Defence Forces.