The United Kingdom has agreed to pay £2.9 million (about $4 million) in compensation to more than 7,000 residents of Laikipia County, Kenya, following a wildfire in 2021 that was linked to British military training exercises. The payments were confirmed by lawyer Kelvin Kubai to Reuters.
Scope of compensation
- Over 7,000 affected people will receive payments for smoke inhalation and for damage to property and the natural environment.
- The wildfire destroyed a large part of the Lolldaiga Conservancy, and unexploded ordnance left by British forces reportedly caused injuries to local residents.
Official statements and responsibility
- A representative of the British diplomatic mission in Nairobi acknowledged the harm caused by the Lolldaiga fire and said the UK recognizes that resolving the matter took a long time and caused frustration in affected communities.
- The incident occurred in March 2021 during British military exercises near the Nanyuki base in northern Kenya. After the fire, a soldier reportedly admitted on social media to involvement, prompting condemnation from the British ambassador and a promise of an investigation by the military police.
Next steps and context
- Payments have been dispatched, according to the lawyer involved in representing claimants.
- The settlement addresses health, property and environmental claims but public reporting does not yet detail individual payment amounts or any further measures for environmental restoration or explosive ordnance clearance.
