More than 3,900 residents in Laikipia County have benefited from free medical services provided by the British Army Training Unit in Kenya (BATUK) during its annual Exercise Haraka Serpent, highlighting the growing demand for accessible healthcare in remote communities.
The medical outreach, conducted in partnership with the national health campaign Beyond Zero, saw 109 military personnel provide services in Kanyoni, Matanya, Debatas, Naibor, Suguroi and Umande.
Residents received a wide range of preventive, diagnostic and curative services, including maternal healthcare, nutrition monitoring, dental treatment, ear, nose and throat check-ups, family planning, ultrasound scans, health education and voluntary HIV counselling and testing.
The initiative also attracted residents from neighbouring areas, with some travelling long distances to access the free services.
Mary Wangari, a health promoter from Kalalu Village in Umande, said residents travelled from as far as Doldol in Laikipia North and Sirimon in Meru County to seek treatment.
“This demonstrates the need for medical services by the communities, especially one which is subsidised or has no cost at all,” Ms Wangari said, welcoming the partnership between BATUK and Beyond Zero.
Umande resident Batista Mungai urged the British Army and its partners to extend the duration of future medical outreaches to reach more people.
“As residents, we are grateful for the medical care we received from the British Army. We welcome them back and hope that future visits can allow for more days in each location so that even more people can benefit,” Mr Mungai said.
Beyond Zero Laikipia Health Services Coordinator Beatrice Maina said the vast size of the county, coupled with long distances to health facilities and economic challenges, continues to hinder access to healthcare for many residents.
“With the help from BATUK, we have been able to reach communities across Laikipia and extend support to neighbouring Isiolo and Samburu counties,” Ms Maina said.
BATUK Commander Colonel James Greaves said the outreach was part of Britain's commitment to supporting communities living near its training and operational areas in Kenya.
He said the partnership with Beyond Zero provided an opportunity to support local communities while helping British military medical personnel better understand the healthcare challenges facing residents.
The exercise also included specialist emergency medical training for Kenya Defence Forces personnel at Kahawa Garrison in Nairobi, creating an opportunity for the two militaries to exchange medical expertise and best practices.
Lieutenant Colonel Catherine Bramwell-Walsh, commanding officer of the 214 Multi-role Medical Regiment deployed for the exercise, said the outreach allowed British Army medical personnel to sharpen their clinical and community engagement skills in a realistic operational environment.
Exercise Haraka Serpent is designed to combine community healthcare, military medical training and strengthening of cooperation between the British Army and the Kenya Defence Forces.
BATUK, based in Nanyuki, conducts training exercises for British and Kenyan troops, with community engagement projects forming part of its activities in areas where it operates.
The partnership between BATUK and Beyond Zero has been running since 2022, according to the organisation.
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