King Charles arrives Kenya as calls for colonial apology grow
- Charles will tackle ‘the more painful aspects’ of Britain’s relationship with the Commonwealth nation during the 4-day visit, Buckingham Palace said
- This includes a 1950s crackdown, which killed thousands from the Kikuyu tribe, after a guerilla campaign against European settlers
Britain’s King Charles arrived in Kenya on Monday for his first visit as monarch to a Commonwealth nation, where he faces widespread calls for an apology for abuses committed during colonial rule.
The palace says Charles, who is travelling with Queen Camilla, is expected to tackle “the more painful aspects” of Britain’s historic relationship with Kenya during the four-day state visit.
This will include the “Emergency” of 1952-1960, when colonial authorities imposed a state of emergency in response to the Mau Mau guerilla campaign against European settlers.
About 10,000 people – mainly from the Kikuyu tribe – were killed during the crackdown.
“The visit comes as Kenya prepares to celebrate 60 years of independence and will spotlight the strong and dynamic partnership between the UK and Kenya,” the British High Commission in Nairobi said in a statement announcing the royal couple’s arrival.
