UK expels 5 KDF soldiers as row with Kenya escalates
By Geoffrey Mosoku and Cyrus Ombati
Updated Tuesday, July 1st 2014 at 22:19 GMT
UK expels 5
<
http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2000126671/uk-expels-5-kdf-soldiers-
as-row-with-kenya-escalates/?searchtext=KDF&searchbutton=SEARCH> KDF
soldiers as row with Kenya escalates Foreign Affairs PS Karanja Kibicho
downplayed diplomatic row between Kenya and UK. Kenya: The diplomatic row
that has left over 700 British soldiers stranded in Nairobi has taken a new
twist with reports that the UK has hit back by expelling five senior
military officers. Kenyan government sources Tuesday told The Standard that
London had ordered the officers, who were undergoing training in the UK, to
return home immediately. The highly placed sources said that visas for the
soldiers, who were yet to complete their training, were cancelled. The
officers have reportedly already arrived in the country. "I think its
tit-for-tat by the British who have asked our men to immediately leave," the
source said, adding that this was part of the UK's pressure on Kenya over
the renewal of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to allow more British
troops to come to the country. The existing MoU will expire in April next
year and Kenya has introduced new terms, which the UK is said to be
uncomfortable with. The bone of contention, according to sources, is the
Government's demand that British soldiers who train in Kenya should be held
accountable for any crimes they commit while in the country. See also: USAid
relocates 'some' staff over insecurity Diplomats The current MoU protects
the soldiers from any form of prosecution, but the Government has now made
it clear that soldiers are not diplomats and therefore do not enjoy immunity
under the Vienna Convention. Apart from any crimes the soldiers may commit,
Kenya also wants soldiers who engage in relationships and bear children with
locals, to be made to pay for the children's upkeep. Tuesday, Foreign
Affairs PS Karanja Kibicho downplayed the diplomatic row but confirmed that
there was "one or two issues" which they have yet to agree on before signing
the MoU. "The current MoU expires in April next year and it will be
irresponsible to report that we have refused to clear any soldier to leave
or come (to Kenya)," he said. However, the PS said that Kenya will not sign
any MoU or agreement that will go against the provisions of the
Constitution. "The Constitution of Kenya only shields the President from
prosecution while in office and since this agreement will be implemented in
Kenya, it's important that it complies with the supreme law that demands for
accountability from everyone," Kibicho said. The PS maintained that Kenya
will not back down from this position.
When asked about the requirement that British soldiers who sire children in
Kenya should pay for their upkeep, the PS refused to comment only saying
that any agreement Kenya will enter into must comply with the Constitution.
The Kenyan law states that both parents of a child have equal rights and
responsibilities on the minor. Committing crimes Under the current
agreement, six British battalions carry out six-week exercises in Kenya
every year. There are also three Royal Engineer Squadron exercises which
carry out civil engineering projects and two medical company group
deployments which provide primary health care assistance to the civilian
community. In the past, the soldiers have been accused of committing crimes
such as assault and in some instances rape, offences which go unpunished due
to the immunity they are accorded under the existing MoU. Last week, The
Standard reported that hundreds of soldiers were stranded due to this row.
The soldiers were supposed to leave Kenya on Thursday aboard a military
plane that was to arrive with another group from Britain. See also: USAid
relocates 'some' staff over insecurity The British soldiers have been moved
to Kahawa Barracks from Nanyuki. Reports in the British press indicate that
UK is planning to transport them back home using commercial airlines. Last
week, British Embassy Spokesperson Stephen Burns confirmed there is "a small
diplomatic issue that he hoped will be resolved soon in regard to the
soldiers' training".
Received on Tue Jul 01 2014 - 18:08:02 EDT