King Charles III described the historical atrocities carried out by the British government against Kenyans during their independence movement as “abhorrent and unjustifiable,” expressing his profound regret and sadness for them.
During their October 2023 visit to Kenya, President William Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto hosted a State Banquet at which the King and Queen Camilla spoke.
“There were abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence committed against Kenyans as they waged a painful struggle for independence and sovereignty – and for that, there can be no excuse,” King Charles III said at the event, which was also attended by Opposition leader Raila Odinga.
The King acknowledged the “painful aspects” of the British Empire’s colonial past, but he did not issue a formal apology. However, the visit has been accompanied by calls for a public apology and restitution from survivors and rights groups.
In order to “deepen my own understanding of these wrongs,” King Charles III stated that he was willing to speak with people who had been impacted by these historical wrongs. He underlined how critical it is that all parties approach historical injustices in an open and sincere manner.
In order to improve ties between Kenya and the United Kingdom, the King stressed the importance of both countries working together to overcome historical injustices. Jomo Kenyatta was cited by him when he said, “Our children may learn about the heroes of the past.” It is up to us to become the future’s architects.
The savage suppression of the Mau Mau insurrection in the 1950s—which resulted in over 10,000 deaths and widespread torture—overshadowed the King’s visit and was one of the bloodiest insurgencies in the history of the British Empire. The colonial government of Kenya and it’s successors classified the Mau Mau resistance group as a terrorist organization, and it remained illegal.
The law was not altered until 2003, at which point Mau Mau militants were acknowledged as independence fighters.
In the past, the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) demanded that any public apology and compensation for victims of historical abuses committed by Britain be “unconditional and unequivocal.” In accordance with the Principles and Guidelines of the United Nations, they also demanded effective compensation.
Kenyan rights organizations encountered difficulties when police prevented survivors of crimes committed by the British Army in Kenya from holding a news conference at the Boulevard Hotel. Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has fought for justice for the victims of the Mau Mau insurrection, despite being absent during their Majesties’ visit.
