By Brian Kiprono - Reporter
Kenya, 28 July 2026 - Kenya and the United Kingdom have resolved a dispute that had threatened to derail a major joint military exercise, clearing the way for Exercise HARAKA STORM to proceed in Laikipia later this year.
The breakthrough follows days of uncertainty after Britain announced the exercise had been cancelled because the necessary licences and approvals had not been issued by the Kenyan government.
On Tuesday, Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi confirmed that the licensing issues had been resolved, describing the outcome as a sign of the enduring partnership between the two countries.
"The Government of Kenya welcomes the decision for the planned military training exercise at the British Army Training Unit Kenya to proceed," Mudavadi said.
"This outcome reflects the strength of the longstanding partnership between Kenya and the United Kingdom, built over decades on mutual respect, constructive engagement and a shared commitment to peace and security. It demonstrates that trusted partners can work through challenges in a spirit of goodwill and continue moving forward together."
The UK also confirmed that the exercise, initially scheduled for September to November, will now go ahead as originally planned after Kenya agreed to issue the required licences and permissions.
"We can confirm that the Kenyan Government has agreed to issue the necessary licences and permissions for Exercise HARAKA STORM to take place in Kenya later this year. We value the close cooperation and shared commitment between the UK and Kenya which have enabled this progress," a UK government spokesperson said.
The British government said detailed planning by the Army had made it possible to retain the original training schedule despite last week's disruption.
"As a result, and following detailed work by the Army, we believe that it is possible to deliver the training in Kenya over the same time period as previously planned. Exercise HARAKA STORM will now take place later this year," the statement added.
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The reversal comes as a relief for communities around Laikipia, where the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK) conducts regular exercises that support local businesses through accommodation, transport and other services.
Beyond military cooperation, BATUK has also been involved in community outreach programmes, including medical camps and environmental conservation initiatives.
Last week, the UK had indicated that the exercise could be moved to another country after the licensing process stalled, raising concerns about the future of the planned deployment and its economic impact on host communities.
However, the Kenyan government maintained throughout that the wider defence partnership with the UK remained intact, explaining that the Kenya-UK Defence Cooperation Agreement was still undergoing parliamentary approval.
The agreement is currently before the National Assembly's Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence and Foreign Relations for consideration in line with constitutional requirements.
With the licensing issue now resolved, both governments say they remain committed to strengthening their long-standing defence cooperation, which supports military readiness, regional security and shared strategic interests.