LAIKIPIA, Kenya – British High Commissioner to Kenya Matt Baugh has made his first official visit to Laikipia County, where he reaffirmed the United Kingdom’s partnership with Kenya by engaging local leaders, touring the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) and officially opening a newly constructed school facility in Nanyuki.
The visit focused on strengthening ties between the UK and Laikipia County while highlighting BATUK’s contribution to education, employment and joint military cooperation.
Baugh met Laikipia Governor Joshua Wakahora Irungu and County Commissioner Duncan Muyesu to discuss the long-standing relationship between the UK and the county, including the economic and social impact of BATUK, which is based in Nanyuki.
The High Commissioner later joined county leaders at Temmakis Primary School to commission a new dining hall and assembly facility built by British soldiers serving under BATUK.
The new building will provide approximately 250 pupils with a dedicated space for meals, assemblies and other school activities regardless of weather conditions.
Speaking during the commissioning ceremony, Baugh said BATUK’s role extends beyond military training to supporting communities that host the unit.
“BATUK supports UK military readiness and contributes to Kenya Defence Forces training. It also has a responsibility to this community to be an active participant and a good neighbour,” he said.
He added that the new facility demonstrates BATUK’s commitment to delivering projects that address local community needs and create lasting benefits for residents.
County Commissioner Duncan Muyesu welcomed the High Commissioner’s visit, describing it as evidence of the strong partnership between Kenya and the United Kingdom at the grassroots level.
He also thanked BATUK for investing in education, saying the new facility would help shape the future of young learners in the area.
The project was completed by 27 volunteer British service personnel with financial support from BATUK amounting to approximately Sh970,000.
During the visit, Baugh also donated rugby balls and footballs to the school and interacted with pupils in a friendly sporting session.
At Nyati Barracks, the headquarters of BATUK, the High Commissioner received briefings on joint Kenya-UK military training programmes aimed at enhancing operational capabilities.
These include Exercise RANGE SWEEP, which focuses on clearing unexploded ordnance and conducting tactical exercises, and Exercise HARAKA SERPENT, an annual programme that brings together Kenyan and British medical teams to deliver healthcare services to remote communities in Laikipia and Samburu counties.
Baugh also met locally employed staff at BATUK to learn more about the employment opportunities created by the training unit, which currently provides jobs to around 600 members of the local community.
