Kenya is set to host a historic visit by Charles III, King of the United Kingdom, marking his first visit to a Commonwealth country since his accession to the throne. This visit is all the more significant as Kenya is celebrating this year its 60th anniversary of independence, proclaimed in December 1963.
The visit of King Charles III and his wife Camilla is eagerly awaited, especially in a context where the United Kingdom is increasingly confronted with its colonial past and is criticized for it. The royal couple will be received by President William Ruto in Nairobi, the Kenyan capital, where they will have the opportunity to meet entrepreneurs, young people and participate in an official banquet. They will also visit a new museum dedicated to Kenyan history and pay tribute to the Unknown Soldier at Uhuru Gardens.
The second part of their visit will take them to Mombasa, in the south of the country, where King Charles III, knowing his ecological commitment, will visit a nature reserve and meet religious representatives.
This visit by King Charles III to Kenya is of great importance for the Commonwealth, an organization of countries that were formerly under British rule. The UK’s colonial past is increasingly being questioned and criticized, and this visit could be an opportunity to discuss the sensitive aspects of this period and what reparations could be considered.
Kenya also holds a special place in the history of the British royal family. It was in this East African country that Charles’ mother learned of the death of his father, King George VI, in 1952 and thus acceded to the throne as Queen Elizabeth II.
This visit by King Charles III to Kenya marks a new stage in relations between the United Kingdom and its former colonies, highlighting the importance of an open and constructive dialogue to address issues linked to the colonial past.