The United Kingdom Will Pay: Reparations for the 2021 Kenyan Fires

August 25th, 2025
Milie Gupta

The United Kingdom has agreed to pay a total of nearly $4 million in compensation to more than 7,000 Kenyans affected by a 2021 forest fire. This fire was sparked by British military training exercises in Laikipia County, Kenya. The settlement is a rare legal victory for local communities against the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK). However, victims of this case state that the payments from the settlement are not enough to make up for their losses.

The fire, which broke out in March 2021 at the Lolldaiga Conservancy, destroyed more than 10,000 acres of land—much of it was wildlife habitat—and caused lasting damage to surrounding communities. Residents reported losing their homes, livestock and crops, while many of them continue to suffer from chronic health problems that are linked to smoke inhalation and pollution from the fire. Many also lost family members to fire-related illnesses.

The British High Commission in Nairobi described the fire as “extremely regrettable” and said it had devoted “considerable time, effort and resources” to resolving the claims. While UK officials took responsibility, the settlement was classified as an ex gratia payment, which is a voluntary payout that does not constitute legal liability.

Despite the nearly $4 million total, the sum is spread across 7,723 claimants, leaving each beneficiary with just about $170. Local leaders and residents have called the payments inadequate given the scale of destruction. Laikipia County MP Cate Waruguru told CNN the outcome was bittersweet: “It’s a success story because it’s the first time we’ve ever won a case against the British Army in Kenya, but it’s so little it’s almost nothing.”

Lawyer Kelvin Kubai, who grew up in the area and spearheaded the class-action lawsuit, said his clients had hoped for a payout nearly 20 times higher. “Military training and conservation are incompatible,” he argued, calling for the relocation of BATUK exercises away from communities and wildlife habitats.

The Lolldaiga fire also left a profound environmental toll. Consultancy firm Howard Humphreys estimated it would take until at least 2060 for the land to fully recover, citing the destruction of tree species such as the threatened African Pencil Cedar. The blaze emitted around 178,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, equivalent to 7% of the UK military’s entire annual emissions from 2020 and 2021. Conservationists warn that the disaster highlights the environmental risks of military activity in sensitive ecosystems.

The case has intensified scrutiny of Britain’s military presence in Kenya. BATUK, which pays roughly $400,000 annually to operate in the country, trains thousands of troops each year on Laikipia’s vast conservancies. But the unit has faced decades of controversy, including allegations of rape, murder and environmental abuse: these are issues that are now under investigation by Kenya’s parliament.

For many victims, the compensation does little to address lingering health problems, polluted water sources or fears of future accidents. As one resident told CNN, “We live a difficult life. If we get this money, we will leave.”

The UK government has pledged to continue supporting restoration efforts in Lolldaiga. Yet, for those still living with the consequences, the settlement represents only partial justice, serving as a quiet reminder of the costs of military partnerships in fragile environments.