The beginning of King Charles’s trip to Kenya was tarnished by fierce protests today as campaigners hit out at the legacy of Britain’s colonial rule.
His Majesty is set to arrive in Kenyan capital Nairobi with Queen Camilla later to start his first state visit to a Commonwealth country as King.
During his trip, the King will express his sorrow over Britain’s repression of the Mau Mau uprising in the 1950s and will ‘acknowledge the more painful aspects of the United Kingdom and Kenya’s shared history’.
But in the impoverished Mathare Valley area of the city today, dozens of protesters gathered with posters and placards to make their feelings about the Royal Family clear.
One poster read ‘Kenyans denounce a brutal monarch’s visit’ and demanded that the King arrives ‘with [the] remains of Kimathi’ – a reference to the leader Mau Mau revolt.
Dedan Kimathi was executed by British troops in 1957 after being captured. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the grounds of the Kenyan prison where he was hanged.
Kenyans have called for the King to intervene because they claim that only British authorities have records of the exact site of Kimathi’s burial.
The beginning of King Charles’s trip to Kenya was tarnished by fierce protests today as campaigners hit out at the legacy of Britain’s colonial rule
His Majesty is set to arrive in Kenyan capital Nairobi with Queen Camilla later this afternoon to start his first state visit to a Commonwealth country as King
Another protester held a sign that demanded the King ‘bring back our artefacts’ – an apparent reference to hundreds of historic Kenyan artefacts that are on display in the British Museum after being taken more than century ago.
On Sunday, the Kenya Human Rights Commission urged Charles to make an ‘unequivocal public apology’ and pay reparations for abuses committed by colonial authorities.
Other signs included one which read ‘return back our historical grabbed land’ and ‘down with colonization down’.
Also demanded by the protestors was the return of the remains of Kenyan tribal leader Koitalel Arap Samoei, who was assassinated in 1906 – allegedly by a British intelligence officer.
He was the leader of the Nandi people and had a role as both a spiritual figurehead and military chief.
He lead what became known as the Nandi resistance against British rule in the 1890s.
The King’s visit comes ahead of the 60th anniversary of Kenya’s independence from Britain, on December 12, 1963.
Although the two nations have enjoyed a close relationship since, the violent colonial legacy of the Mau Mau uprising remains a sore point for many.
During a period known as the ‘Emergency’ – between 1952 and 1960 – British authorities went to great lengths to repress the Mau Mau guerrilla campaign against European settlers.
Kenyan protestors are seen massed in Nairobi today to denounce the visit of King Charles
One poster read ‘Kenyans denounce a brutal monarch’s visit’ and demanded that the King arrives ‘with [the] remains of Kimathi’ – a reference to the leader Mau Mau revolt
The protestors also sang songs of liberation during the demonstration today
Furious Kenyans take part in the demonstration against the King’s visit today
Around 10,000 people – mainly from the Kikuyu tribe – were killed during the crackdown.
Following a years-long court battle, Britain agreed in 2013 to compensate more than 5,000 Kenyans who had suffered abuse during the revolt, in a deal worth nearly £20million.
Kenya’s human rights commission said in its statement on Sunday: ‘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.’
Another lingering source of tension is the presence of British troops in Kenya.
In August, Kenya’s parliament launched an inquiry into the activities of the British army, which has a base on the outskirts of Nanyuki, a town about 120 miles (200 kilometres) north of Nairobi.
Highlights of Charles and Camilla’s state visit include their visit to Nairobi National Park to learn about Kenya Wildlife Service’s conservation work.
Chris Fitzgerald, deputy private secretary to the King, said when his visit was first announced a few weeks ago: ‘During the visit, their majesties will meet President Ruto and the first lady as well as other members of the Kenyan government, UN staff, CEOs, faith leaders, young people, future leaders and Kenyan marines training with UK Royal Marines.’
He added: ‘The King and Queen’s programme will celebrate the close links between the British and Kenyan people in areas such as the creative arts, technology, enterprise, education and innovation.
‘The visit will also acknowledge the more painful aspects of the UK and Kenya’s shared history, including the Emergency (1952-1960).
Dedan Kimathi was executed by British troops in 1957 after being captured. He was buried in an unmarked grave in the grounds of the Kenyan prison where he was hanged
During his trip, the King will express his sorrow over Britain’s repression of the Mau Mau uprising in the 1950s and will ‘acknowledge the more painful aspects of the United Kingdom and Kenya’s shared history’, according to insiders. Above: British troops suppressing the uprising
British policemen hold men from the village of Kariobangi at gunpoint while their huts are searched for evidence that they participated in the Mau Mau Rebellion of 1952
Hundreds of arrested Kenyans wait to be questioned after the Mau Mau camp massacres in 1953
‘His Majesty will take time during the visit to deepen his understanding of the wrongs suffered in this period by the people of Kenya.’
On X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, Buckingham Palace’s account said today: ‘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.’
The King and Queen will also watch Kenyan marines, trained by the Royal Marines, stage a mock covert beach landing when they visit Mtongwe naval base in Mombasa.
Kenya has a unique association with the British royal family as it is the country where Queen Elizabeth II was told of the death of her father, King George VI, and acceded to the throne.
The then princess was making an official visit with the Duke of Edinburgh to Kenya, and was staying at the Treetops hotel, a lodge deep in the Aberdare National Park, when the King died on February 6, 1952.
The late Queen made a state visit to Kenya in November 1983.
The King’s visit to Kenya is part of his mission to shore up the Commonwealth amid calls for other nations in the grouping to become republics.
Jamaica’s prime minister confirmed plans in July for his country to become a republic.
The move would follow in the footsteps of Barbados, which gave up the British monarchy in 2021.