LONDON: Britain’s King Charles III was heading to Kenya on Monday, his first visit as monarch to a Commonwealth nation, where he faces widespread calls for an apology for abuses committed during colonial rule.

“The King and Queen (Camilla) are on their way to Kenya for a four-day visit which will take in the best of the country, from its young tech entrepreneurs and creatives to its beautiful forests and coastline,” Buckingham Palace said on X, formerly Twitter.

However, much of the focus ahead of the trip has been on colonial rule, with the palace saying Charles is expected to tackle “the more painful aspects” of its historic relationship with Kenya.

This will include the “Emergency” of 1952-1960, when colonial authorities imposed a state of emergency in response to the Mau Mau guerrilla campaign against European settlers.

About 10,000 people — mainly from the Kikuyu tribe — were killed during the crackdown. The royal visit comes as Kenya prepares to celebrate 60 years of independence from Britain in December.

The choice of Kenya for his first visit to a Commonwealth nation since becoming king in September last year has special resonance for the royal family.

It was there in 1952 that Charles’s mother — the late Queen Elizabeth II — learned of the death of her father, King George VI, marking the start of her historic 70-year reign.

Charles and Camilla officially kick off the visit on Tuesday (today), when they will be welcomed by Kenyan President William Ruto.

During two days in the capital Nairobi, Charles will meet entrepreneurs, young Kenyans and participate in a state banquet.

‘Unequivocal apology’

Although Kenya’s government has said talks will focus on environmental issues, technology, innovation and women’s empowerment, demands for an apology have dominated public discourse in recent days.

On Sunday, the Kenya Human Rights Commission urged Charles to make an “unequivocal public apology” and pay reparations for abuses committed by colonial authorities.

“We call upon the King on behalf of the British government to issue an unconditional and unequivocal public apology (as opposed to the very cautious, self-preserving and protective statements of regrets) for the brutal and inhuman treatment inflicted on Kenyan citizens,” it said.

According to Buckingham Palace, Charles “will take time during the visit to deepen his understanding of the wrongs suffered in this period by the people of Kenya”.

Following a years-long court battle, Britain agreed in 2013 to compensate more than 5,000 Kenyans who had suffered abuse during the Mau Mau revolt, in a deal worth nearly 20 million pounds ($25 million at today’s rates).

Each claimant received around 2,600 pounds after legal costs were deducted.

At the time, then foreign secretary William Hague said Britain “sincerely regrets” the abuses but stopped short of a full apology.—

Published in Dawn, October 31st, 2023