By Enyichukwu Enemanna
British authorities have agreed to pay the sum of 2.9 million pounds ($4 million) in compensation to affected Kenyan residents following a 2021 fire outbreak caused by British military exercise, lawyer to be plaintiffs said on Friday.
“We arrived at a settlement and have dispatched payments,” Reuters quoted the lawyer Kelvin Kubai as saying.
This comes after prolonged legal battle by local community members in the East African country.
The campaigners have said the effects of the fire caused them lifelong health issues, damaged their property and polluted their environment.
Compensation was paid to over 7,000 residents, the lawyer stated, for what he described as “smoke nuisance” caused by the fire.
It could be recalled that British soldiers hold regular joint military drill with Kenya in the northern Laikipia region, where it has a base in the town of Nanyuki.
During such operation in March 2021, fire broke out in the nearby Lolldaiga, causing economic damages.
Lolldaiga residents accused a British army training unit of being responsible for the wildfire, in which a large nature reserve was destroyed, leaving behind ordnance that injured locals.
A British soldier later in a social media post admitted responsibility over the inferno, prompting the British High Commissioner at the time to say she was “appalled” and to pledge an investigation by the Royal Military Police.
On Friday, British authorities expressed regret over the fire incident.
“The Lolldaiga fire was extremely regrettable, and the UK recognises the length of time it has taken to resolve this matter and the frustration that this has caused within the affected communities,” a spokesperson at the British High Commission in Nairobi said in a statement.
