Westminster is quietly patting itself on the back. British-trained Kenyan security forces have been praised for their swift response to the school arson attacks that have rocked the country. The co-ordinated blazes at several schools in the Rift Valley left parents terrified and the government scrambling. But the arrests came fast. Too fast for some conspiracy theorists. The reality? Our boys (and girls) on the ground there have been schooled in the British way of doing things. Intelligence-led policing. Community engagement. The works.
Let's be clear: this isn't a colonial victory lap. It's a quiet nod to the soft power that keeps the UK relevant in a volatile region. The Kenyan authorities have openly credited British advisors for the rapid arrests. That's rare. Usually, they'd claim the glory. But this time, the credit has flowed back to London.
The arson attacks themselves remain shrouded in mystery. Who benefits? The usual suspects: extremist groups, political rivals, or just plain old criminal opportunists. But the narrative here is shifting. The focus is not on the fires, but on the firefighting. The UK's role in stabilising Kenya is under the microscope. And it's passing the test for now.
Labour MPs are already asking questions. Is this a distraction from domestic failures? The Tories are spinning it as a triumph for international co-operation. Either way, the story is leaving the front pages. The real game is in the back channels. The National Security Adviser is said to be pleased. That means the PM is pleased. And that means someone's getting a promotion.
Polls show a bump in public confidence for the government's handling of foreign policy. But it's fragile. One wrong move, one leaked memo about excessive force, and it could unravel. For now, the arrests are being hailed as a textbook operation. The textbooks were written in Britain. And that's a headline Downing Street will take any day.
