The British Army has continued to receive sharp criticism over alleged atrocities committed in Laikipia County.
Speaking in Doldol on Wednesday in an event attended by British High Commissioner to Kenya Neil Wigan, Laikipia North Member of Parliament Sarah Korere slammed British Army Training Unit (BATUK) claiming that their presence in Laikipia County was not beneficial.
“As it is today, the British Army are only training in settlers’ farms not minding they trained in our land for 40 years without paying a cent and we are asking of your kind government not to pay us anything but do something in kind to show that we hosted you for the longest time,” she said.
She pointed out her constituents have lagged behind in education and only allowed to attend school four years to independence hence the high illiteracy level in the area.
“To be precise, this is the place where, during colonial era, the Maasai of Mukogodo were never allowed to go to school, we were allowed four years to independence and that is why we are lagging behind,’’ she claimed.
The lawmaker said that BATUK needed to take responsibility over atrocities committed or else they would be charged in a court of law.
She urged the UK government to support infrastructure including schools adding education was the only way to accelerate development in the region. “The only thing that is going to accelerate our development faster is education and I am asking we partner with your government to make sure we boost education in this area through schools’ infrastructures among others,’’ she said.
The British High Commissioner however steered clear of the atrocities claimed by the legislator and left moments after making his remarks.
By Muturi Mwangi
