Calls were made on Wednesday for King Charles III of Britain to issue an apology for colonial-era atrocities in Kenya as he prepares for his visit to the country later this month. The visit, set to take place from October 31 to November 3, marks the king’s first trip to a Commonwealth country since ascending to the throne last year and his fourth official visit to Kenya.
Buckingham Palace stated that the visit is intended to celebrate the “warm relationship” between the two countries as Kenya gears up to commemorate the 60th anniversary of its independence from Britain in December. The trip will also serve to “acknowledge the more painful aspects of the UK and Kenya’s shared history, including the Emergency” from 1952 to 1960, a reference to violent uprisings against colonial rule.
The palace further noted that “His Majesty will take time during the visit to deepen his understanding of the wrongs suffered in this period by the people of Kenya.”
The Mau Mau uprising saw approximately 10,000 people killed during Britain’s harsh suppression, making it one of the bloodiest insurgencies of the British Empire. In 2013, Britain agreed to compensate over 5,000 Kenyans who had endured abuses during the revolt, with the deal totaling nearly £20 million (almost $25 million at today’s exchange rates).
Evelyn Wanjugu Kimathi, daughter of the prominent resistance leader Dedan Kimathi, expressed the hope that King Charles’ visit would lead to a national apology and provide “closure.” She also sought Britain’s assistance in locating graves of the “freedom fighters,” including her father, whose remains have yet to be found.
Many Kenyans hope the visit will pave the way for a fresh start in relations with Britain, focusing on shared development and the future, rather than the colonial past. The trip is seen as an opportunity to reset relations and address ongoing issues, including allegations of abuses by British soldiers at a training camp near Nanyuki.
Kenya’s parliament launched an investigation in August into the activities of British troops, including the high-profile killing of a young mother in 2012. In the latest development, the family of Agnes Wanjiru, the victim, has initiated a lawsuit in Kenya to compel the British government to provide information about its investigation and potential prosecution in the case. Mwangi Macharia, chairman of the African Centre for Corrective and Preventive Action, which filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Wanjiru family, stated that he would be “seeking justice.”
Some Kenyans expressed skepticism regarding the impact of the royal visit, fearing that the king would remain guarded and detached from the feelings of ordinary Kenyans.