The British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) has begun preparations for Exercise Haraka Storm, just days after the Kenyan government renewed its operating licences.
In a statement issued on August 5, BATUK confirmed that a joint clearance mission involving the British Army's 21 Field Squadron, the 33 Engineer Regiment, and the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) 10th Engineer Regiment is currently operating in the Archer's Post Training Area after completing a four-week unexploded ordnance clearance exercise in Samburu County.
The operation focused on removing explosive hazards from military impact zones used by BATUK, the KDF and partner forces, with the aim of making training grounds safer for both military personnel and neighbouring communities.
"After four weeks of Exercise RANGE SWEEP in Archer's Post Training Area, we are all set for Exercise Haraka Storm. The British Army 21 Field Squadron, 33 Engineer Regiment, alongside the Kenya Defence Forces 10th Engineer Regiment, successfully concluded four weeks of Explosive Ordnance Clearance operations in Archer's Post Training Area under Exercise Range Sweep 2026," BATUK stated.
The clearance exercise forms part of the annual Exercise RANGE SWEEP programme, which is conducted after military drills to locate and safely dispose of unexploded ordnance in gazetted live-firing areas across Samburu County.
In addition to the clearance work, the troops held explosive safety awareness sessions in 24 schools, educating students and surrounding communities on how to identify suspicious objects and react safely.
The exercise also signals the next phase of cooperation between the British and Kenyan militaries ahead of Exercise Haraka Storm, which is expected to run between September and November.
The preparations come only weeks after BATUK's training programme was thrown into uncertainty following delays in the renewal of its operating licences.
On July 23, the UK Ministry of Defence announced it would temporarily shift some military exercises from Kenya to Tanzania as the licensing impasse persisted.
The standoff was further fuelled by claims from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who alleged that the National Assembly Defence Committee (NADC) had demanded bribes of up to Ksh3 billion and issued an ultimatum over the licence renewal, warning that BATUK's operations could be halted.
The dispute also centred on questions surrounding legal jurisdiction, accountability for visiting British troops and longstanding grievances from communities over alleged past abuses linked to BATUK personnel.
At the same time, the NADC had been pushing for tougher conditions under the Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) before diplomatic engagements eventually led to the restoration of the required clearances.
The licences were reinstated on July 28, allowing BATUK's autumn training programme to proceed, although the government, together with leaders from Laikipia and Samburu, maintained that future military operations must better address community concerns and parliamentary recommendations.
