The United Kingdom has relocated its annual Exercise Haraka Storm military training exercise from Kenya to neighbouring Tanzania after the licences required to conduct the drills in Laikipia were not issued by the Kenyan government.
The exercise, organised by the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) in partnership with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), had been scheduled to run between September and November 2026 in Laikipia County. The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed that the exercise will instead take place in Tanzania.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defence said the relocation was necessitated by the absence of the approvals required for the training to proceed in Kenya.
“It is with regret that the necessary licences required to allow training to take place in Laikipia later this year have not been forthcoming. As a result, the planned training will now be conducted at an alternative location outside Kenya,” the Ministry said.
The Ministry added that all British military training activities in Kenya are subject to the approval of the Kenyan government and emphasised that the decision does not signal an end to defence cooperation between the two countries.
“The UK highly values its relationship with Kenya, which is underpinned by mutual benefit, respect and cooperation. The UK-Kenya Defence Partnership is one of the great strengths of our relationship,” the statement added.
The relocation comes as discussions continue over the legal framework governing BATUK’s operations in Kenya. Parliament has yet to ratify a revised Defence Cooperation Agreement, with some lawmakers raising concerns over jurisdiction, accountability and provisions affecting British personnel serving in Kenya.
Recent parliamentary inquiries have also examined allegations relating to environmental degradation, unexploded ordnance, and misconduct involving British troops operating in Kenya. While the UK Ministry of Defence did not cite these issues as the reason for relocating the exercise, they have formed part of the wider debate surrounding BATUK’s presence in the country.
The cancellation of this year’s exercise in Kenya is also expected to affect businesses in Laikipia and neighbouring towns that ordinarily benefit from the deployment of British troops through spending on accommodation, transport, supplies and other local services. The UK acknowledged that communities expecting economic activity from the exercise would be affected by the decision.
Despite moving Exercise Haraka Storm to Tanzania, the UK said it remains committed to maintaining its long-standing defence partnership with Kenya and will continue engaging Kenyan authorities with the aim of resuming training in the country once the necessary approvals are obtained.