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In Kenya, King Charles to acknowledge ‘painful aspects’ of Britain’s colonial past

King Charles III is in Kenya for his first state visit to a Commonwealth country as monarch. Buckingham Palace said he will acknowledge the “painful aspects” of Britain and Kenya’s shared history while underscoring his commitment to an organization that’s been central to the U.K.’s global power since World War II.

Quick Read

  • King Charles III is on his first state visit to Kenya, a Commonwealth nation.
  • The visit aims to acknowledge the “painful aspects” of the shared history between Britain and Kenya, and Charles’ commitment to the Commonwealth, a crucial part of the U.K.’s global influence since WWII.
  • The trip is symbolically significant as Queen Elizabeth II found out she was to be queen while in Kenya in 1952, then a British colony.
  • King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in Nairobi, where they were welcomed by Kenyan President William Ruto. They also visited the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior and the site of Kenya’s 1963 independence declaration.
  • The U.K Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, announced a £4.5 million funding boost to support Kenyan education reforms during Charles’ library visit.
  • Britain and Kenya share a complex relationship, especially due to the Mau Mau Rebellion against colonial rule, where many Kenyans suffered.
  • Some Kenyans express anger and demand apologies from the British for past wrongs, with protests and press conferences planned around King Charles’ visit.
  • Protests and gatherings were disrupted by police presence, and colonial statues in Nairobi’s Jevanjee Gardens were removed in 2020, reflecting tensions.
  • Land ownership issues persist, with some Kenyans claiming that British companies still control land once taken by colonialists.
  • King Charles will also focus on environmental conservation during his visit, meeting environmental activist Wanjira Mathai.
  • The British royal family has deep connections to Africa; notably, Queen Elizabeth II pledged lifelong service from South Africa in 1947.

The Associated Press has the story:

In Kenya, King Charles to acknowledge ‘painful aspects’ of Britain’s colonial past

Newslooks- NAIROBI, Kenya (AP)

King Charles III is in Kenya for his first state visit to a Commonwealth country as monarch. Buckingham Palace said he will acknowledge the “painful aspects” of Britain and Kenya’s shared history while underscoring his commitment to an organization that’s been central to the U.K.’s global power since World War II.

Kenya’s President William Ruto and First Lady Rachal Ruto, right, welcome Britain’s King Charles III, second left, and Queen Camilla at State House, in Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday, October 31, 2023. King Charles is in Kenya for a four-day trip, his first state visit to a Commonwealth country as monarch, underscoring his commitment to an organization that’s been central to Britain’s global power and prestige since World War II. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi)

The four-day visit is full of symbolism. Charles’ mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, learned that she had become the U.K. monarch while visiting a game preserve in the East African nation — at the time a British colony — in 1952.

The king and Queen Camilla touched down in the capital, Nairobi, late Monday and were given a ceremonial welcome Tuesday by Kenyan President William Ruto at State House. Charles later planted an African fern tree seedling in its lawn.

Britain’s King Charles III, center, reviews the honor guard during a welcome ceremony at State House, in Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday, October 31, 2023. King Charles is in Kenya for a four-day trip, his first state visit to a Commonwealth country as monarch, underscoring his commitment to an organization that’s been central to Britain’s global power and prestige since World War II. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi)

The royal couple also visited the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior at gardens named Uhuru, which is Swahili for freedom. The king and Ruto laid wreaths, then proceeded to the site of the declaration of Kenya’s independence in 1963.

Comments by the king and Kenya’s president were not immediately made available.

Kenya’s President William Ruto and Britain’s King Charles III, left, walk at State House, in Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday, October 31, 2023. King Charles is in Kenya for a four-day trip, his first state visit to a Commonwealth country as monarch, underscoring his commitment to an organization that’s been central to Britain’s global power and prestige since World War II. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi)

During Charles’ visit to a public library, U.K Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced 4.5 million pounds ($5.5 million) in new funding to support education reforms in Kenya.

Cleverly noted that Kenya’s schools were important to the U.K. as “the father of our prime minister went to Highway Secondary School here in Nairobi.”

Britain’s King Charles III, center, and Queen Camilla, center left, arrive to visit the Eastlands Library to learn about a project that restores old libraries and encourages reading amongst children in the community in Makadara district of Nairobi, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. King Charles is in Kenya for a four-day trip, his first state visit to a Commonwealth country as monarch, underscoring his commitment to an organization that’s been central to Britain’s global power and prestige since World War II. (Thomas Mukoya/Pool Photo via AP)

Kenya is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its independence this year. It and Britain have enjoyed a close but sometimes challenging relationship after the prolonged struggle against colonial rule, sometimes known as the Mau Mau Rebellion, in which thousands of Kenyans died.

Colonial authorities resorted to executions and detention without trial as they tried to put down the insurrection, and thousands of Kenyans said they were beaten and sexually assaulted by agents of the administration.

Britain’s King Charles III, center, poses for a photograph with secondary school students during his visit to the Eastlands Library to learn about a project that restores old libraries and encourages reading amongst children in the community in Makadara district of Nairobi, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. King Charles is in Kenya for a four-day trip, his first state visit to a Commonwealth country as monarch, underscoring his commitment to an organization that’s been central to Britain’s global power and prestige since World War II. (Thomas Mukoya/Pool Photo via AP)

The British High Commission said Charles would “meet veterans and give his blessing to efforts by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to ensure Kenyans and Africans who supported British efforts in the World Wars are properly commemorated.”

Salim David Nganga, 64, said the king ought to apologize to Kenyans first.

Britain’s King Charles III walks past his portrait during a visit to a Tech and Innovation showcase at Nairobi Garage in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday. Oct. 31, 2023. King Charles is in Kenya for a four-day trip, his first state visit to a Commonwealth country as monarch, underscoring his commitment to an organization that’s been central to Britain’s global power and prestige since World War II. (Luis Tato, Pool via AP)

“The king should never have been allowed to step in this country, considering the dark history of British colonialists,” he said, speaking at the capital’s Jevanjee Gardens, where colonial statues were brought down in 2020.

The king’s visit reignited some tensions over land in parts of Kenya.

Joel Kimutai Kimetto, 74, said his grandfather and father were kicked out of their ancestral home by the British.

A Kenyan reads the Daily Nation newspaper with a portrait of Britain’s King Charles III and the headline ‘The Dark Past’ in Nairobi, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. King Charles III wants to look to the future when his four-day state visit to Kenya starts on Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. But first he will have to confront the past. (AP Photo/Sayyid Abdul Azim)

“What is most painful is that years after the brutalities and the stealing of our land, British companies are still in possession of our ancestral homes, earning millions from their comfortable headquarters in the U.K., while our people remain squatters,” he told the AP in a phone interview. “We ask President William Ruto and our leaders to use this golden opportunity to address our plight with the king.”

FILE – A view of a matatu adorned with photos of Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla ahead of their state visit to Kenya, in Nairobi, Kenya, Oct. 27, 2023. King Charles III wants to look to the future when his four-day state visit to Kenya starts on Tuesday Oct. 31, 2023. But first he will have to confront the past. (AP Photo/Khalil Senosi, file)

Elsewhere, a planned protest and press conference by victims of a fire at a conservancy in central Kenya that was allegedly started by British soldiers in training was canceled ahead of the king’s visit.

The victims’ lawyer, Kelvin Kubai, told the AP on Monday that they arrived at the hotel where they were to hold the press conference and were informed that police had issued a cancellation notice. He said he found a heavy police presence around the hotel.

Britain’s King Charles III meets entrepreneurs during a visit to a Tech and Innovation showcase at Nairobi Garage in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday. Oct. 31, 2023. King Charles is in Kenya for a four-day trip, his first state visit to a Commonwealth country as monarch, underscoring his commitment to an organization that’s been central to Britain’s global power and prestige since World War II. (Luis Tato, Pool via AP)

Another group of protesters briefly chanted anti-British songs and threw red roses at the foot of a monument to Mau Mau veteran Dedan Kimathi in Nairobi’s central business district on Tuesday afternoon. A contingent of uniformed and plain-clothed police officers dispersed the group.

“Just because the king is in Kenya, police have denied us our constitutional right to protest peacefully,” Juliet Wanjira, one of the organizers, said.

Britain’s King Charles III, center, visits City Shamba, an urban farming project during his and Queen Camilla’s state visit to Kenya, in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. King Charles is in Kenya for a four-day trip, his first state visit to a Commonwealth country as monarch, underscoring his commitment to an organization that’s been central to Britain’s global power and prestige since World War II. (Monicah Mwangi/Pool Photo via AP)

Charles also plans to visit Nairobi National Park and meet with environmental activist Wanjira Mathai, the daughter of late Nobel laureate Wangari Maathai, as he emphasizes his commitment to environmental protection.

Britain’s King Charles III, centre right. speaks to an employee during a visit to City Shamba, an urban farming project, at Mama Lucy Kibaki Hospital in Nairobi, Tuesday, Oct. 31, 2023. King Charles III has arrived in Kenya for his first state visit to a Commonwealth country as monarch. (Tony Karumba/ Pool Photo via AP)

The royal family has long ties to Africa. In 1947, the future Queen Elizabeth II pledged lifelong service to Britain and the Commonwealth during a speech from South Africa on her 21st birthday. Five years later, she and her husband Prince Philip were visiting Aberdare National Park in Kenya when they learned that her father had died and she had become queen.

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