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The British Army may abandon training in Kenya because of a delay in renewal of the annual permit necessary for live-fire exercises on artillery ranges. The training centre in Kenya provides the final phase of training for three infantry battalions a year before recruits are sent to the front line.

Since Kenya's independence in 1963, the country has allowed British troops to train at the frontier towns of Archer's Post and Dol Dol and headquarter at Nanyuki. Delay over the latest agreement has now entered its twelfth month.

According to defence officials, negotiations are "at an advanced stage," but delayed investigations into hundreds of rape charges against British soldiers, some viewed as dubious and dating back up to thirty years, are causing problems.

Fabian Lolosoli, chairman of Samburu county council, whose constituents make up most of the claimants, confirmed the connection to the rape allegations. "There is no way we can allow these soldiers back to train until we have finalised the compensation for the rapes against our women. They are delaying on their side, and so we have the right to delay things on our side."

Mark Norton, speaking on behalf of the British High Commission, disputed that the investigation was behind schedule. "Quite rightly, the Royal Military Police have vowed to look into each case in great deal, and putting together a file on 700-odd claims is going to take time."

The rape cases are being led by British personal injury lawyer Martyn Day, who won a £4.5 million out-of-court deal in 2002 for those killed or maimed by munitions left behind by the Army after training exercises. Day insists that the rape claims are checked out thoroughly before being included in litigation and states that he will begin legal proceedings this month. Although the Ministry of Defence has expressed concern over the allegations, no soldiers have been disciplined. Claims have been made that officers and others have known about the rapes for years, and done nothing.

The British High Commissioner, Adam Wood, said that Britain would consider moving the army training elsewhere, if the accord wasn't renewed. "As far I am aware, we have addressed all the technical issues."

Some exercises have been already moved and plans are being made for a full-scale withdrawal of training programmes from East Africa. An official close to the British High Commission stated, "Kenya has been ideal for a long time, but it is not without parallel. "