Britain’s King Charles is currently on a four-day state visit to Kenya, marking his first visit to a former colony. During this visit, he intends to address the “painful aspects” of the shared history between the two countries, which includes almost seven decades of colonial rule. King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, and were received by Kenyan President William Ruto. The visit is seen as a reflection of the close cooperation between the two countries on economic development, climate change, and security issues.
As part of his itinerary, King Charles plans to meet with entrepreneurs from Kenya’s thriving tech scene and visit wildlife facilities. He and Queen Camilla will also travel to the port city of Mombasa. However, many Kenyans are particularly interested in what King Charles will say about the colonial-era abuses, such as torture, killings, and land expropriation, which still affect the country. A significant period of British rule that is remembered for its atrocities is the 1952-1960 Mau Mau revolt, during which an estimated 90,000 Kenyans were killed or maimed, and 160,000 were detained.
The UK government has previously expressed regret for the abuses during this period and reached an out-of-court settlement of nearly 20 million pounds in 2013. During their visit, King Charles and Queen Camilla will tour a new national history museum, visit the site where Kenya’s independence was declared in 1963, and pay respects at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior. Buckingham Palace stated that King Charles will take the opportunity to deepen his understanding of the wrongs suffered by the people of Kenya during this period.
King Charles’ visit comes at a time when some former colonies are reassessing their ties to the monarchy and calling for Britain to confront its colonial past. Barbados, for example, recently transitioned to a republic, and Jamaica has indicated a similar intention. Last year, at the Commonwealth summit, King Charles, then the heir to the throne, acknowledged the role of slavery in the organization’s roots, surprising many. However, citizens of former British colonies, including Kenya, are urging King Charles to go further by offering a direct apology and endorsing reparations.
In Kenya, leaders from the Nandi people, whose leader Koitalel Arap Samoie led a rebellion against British rule until his assassination in 1905, are among those demanding reparations. The British confiscated much of their land and cattle in the aftermath. While acknowledging the contributions of the British to Kenya’s education and public health systems, Samoie’s great-grandson, Kipchoge araap Chomu, emphasized the need for historical injustices to be addressed through a public apology and reparations.
Overall, King Charles’ visit to Kenya serves as an opportunity to acknowledge the painful aspects of the shared history between the two countries and to deepen his understanding of the wrongs suffered by the people of Kenya during the colonial era. It also highlights the growing calls for Britain to confront its colonial past and address historical injustices in former colonies.
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