Rift Valley, Kenya – More than four years after a devastating fire linked to a British military training exercise tore through the Lolldaiga conservancy in Kenya’s Rift Valley, 7,723 residents have secured a £2.9 million settlement from the United Kingdom.
The blaze, which broke out in March 2021, was reportedly sparked by a training activity involving British soldiers stationed at the Nyati Barracks. The fire destroyed large swathes of vegetation, disrupted local livelihoods, and left lasting environmental damage in one of the region’s most important conservancies.
Residents, supported by environmental activists and legal advocates, launched a class-action lawsuit against the UK Ministry of Defence, demanding accountability for the loss of farmland, homes, and natural resources. After years of legal proceedings, the settlement was formally reached this week, offering some relief to affected communities.
Lawyers representing the claimants described the compensation as a “hard-fought victory,” though they noted that no financial package could fully reverse the damage caused to the ecosystem and the livelihoods dependent on it. Local leaders also urged both the Kenyan and British governments to establish stricter safeguards to prevent such incidents from recurring.
The Lolldaiga conservancy, home to diverse wildlife including elephants and endangered species, remains in recovery. Environmental experts warn that full ecological restoration may take decades.
The British High Commission in Nairobi welcomed the resolution, stating that the settlement underscores the UK’s commitment to addressing the impact of its military operations abroad.
For many residents, the payout represents long-awaited recognition of their suffering, marking the end of a drawn-out legal battle that began in the aftermath of the 2021 fire.
