LAIKIPIA, Kenya — The British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) has launched a Sh2.78 million land restoration project aimed at rehabilitating degraded community land and strengthening livelihoods for the Ilmotiok pastoral community in Laikipia North.
The initiative will restore 30 acres of community land by planting grass to improve pasture for livestock, a critical resource in a region grappling with recurrent droughts and erratic rainfall.
The project is being implemented in partnership with the Mpala Research Centre.
According to a statement from the UK High Commission, five of the 30 acres will be set aside for food crop production under the Ilmotiok Women’s Group.
The move aims to improve household nutrition and generate income. BATUK has also donated 20 beehives to support the group’s beekeeping enterprise.
Laikipia County, classified as part of Kenya’s arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), faces climate change-induced challenges,including prolonged drought, water scarcity, and pasture-related conflicts.
The restoration programme seeks to address these vulnerabilities through sustainable land management practices.
Guided by agriculture and livestock experts from Mpala Research Centre, the project will promote improved pasture management, climate-resilient farming techniques, and increased productivity in livestock rearing, agriculture, and apiculture.
“This project will help position Laikipia as a model for sustainable land stewardship in Kenya’s arid and semi-arid ecosystem,” the UK High Commission said.
Speaking at the launch, BATUK Commander Col. James Greaves described the initiative as part of the unit’s broader commitment to host communities.
“This project is more than restoring land and growing crops; it is about empowering local communities with the tools, knowledge, and support they need to rehabilitate degraded areas, improve agricultural productivity, and protect vital ecosystems,” he said.
He emphasized that the partnership brings together BATUK, the Kenyan government, development partners, and local communities to deliver sustainable impact.
The Ilmotiok community is located near BATUK’s SWARA operating base and the MPALA training area.
Acting British High Commissioner to Kenya Ed Barnett highlighted the wider scope of Kenya–UK defence cooperation, noting that approximately 1,100 Kenyan soldiers receive training annually under the partnership.
He added that in the last financial year, BATUK’s community engagements provided medical support to 17,000 patients and improved water access for 29 schools and orphanages.
“The UK–Kenya Strategic Partnership on security and defence is delivering real impact on the ground,” Barnett said. “Our BATUK partnerships are built on trust, respect, and genuine engagement.”
