Calls for King Charles to Apologise during Kenya Visit for Colonial-Era Atrocities

Calls have been made for King Charles III of Britain to issue an apology for the atrocities committed during the colonial era in Kenya, ahead of his upcoming visit to the country later this month.

Scheduled for October 31 to November 3, the recently-crowned King is set to embark on his first official visit to a Commonwealth country with Queen Camilla by his side. His visit is celebrated as an opportunity to strengthen the unbreakable bonds between Kenya and the United Kingdom. While significant progress and development have unfolded since Kenya was granted independence from Britain nearly 60 years ago, Buckingham Palace humbly acknowledges the challenges and struggles of their ties tethered by their unforgettable shared history, marked most notably by the tumultuous period known as the Emergency from 1952 to 1960.

The Mau Mau rebellion was a vicious insurgency during the British Empire, resulting in the deaths of approximately 10,000 people. Wanjugu Kimathi, the leader of a foundation that advocates for veterans and environmental issues believes that obtaining support from the UK government would aid in reaching a viable solution. In addition, the daughter of top resistance leader Dedan expresses her desire for Britain to help with unearthing the burial locations of the “freedom fighters”, which include her father. Other Kenyans seem optimistic regarding the visit and anticipate that it will lead to improved relations. They bid welcome to King Charles III as a partner focused on shared development rather than an ex-colonial overlord.

The visit presents an opportunity to rectify the relations between these two countries. Simultaneously, the visit is anticipated to address the alleged abuses of the British forces in Nanyuki. Otieno, an accountant and activist, advocates for justice on behalf of the victims affected by the actions. A parliamentary examination in August looked into the actions of the British military, centred around the devastating demise of a young mother in 2012.

Agnes Wanjiru, 21, was discovered deceased in a septic tank after allegedly socializing with British troops at a hotel in Nanyuki. In a recent development regarding this matter, her family filed a lawsuit in Kenya, urging the British government to disclose information about the progress of their investigation and potential prosecution of the perpetrator.