Current:Home > StocksKing Charles III acknowledges 'unjustifiable acts of violence' against Kenyans during Commonwealth visit-InfoLens
King Charles III acknowledges 'unjustifiable acts of violence' against Kenyans during Commonwealth visit
View Date:2024-12-23 15:22:41
King Charles III acknowledged "wrongdoings of the past" from the British Empire's rule over Kenya in his first visit to a Commonwealth nation since ascending the throne.
The British monarch delivered a speech at the State Banquet held at the State House in Nairobi, Kenya, on Tuesday, discussing the U.K.'s relationship with the African nation.
Charles first started by recalling poignant memories his family made in Kenya, including when his late mother Queen Elizabeth II "arrived here in 1952 a princess, but left as queen" after the death of King George VI and the moment in 2010 when Prince William "proposed to his wife, now my beloved daughter-in-law" Princess Kate.
"It is the intimacy of our shared history that has brought our people together. However, we must also acknowledge the most painful times of our long and complex relationship. The wrongdoings of the past are a cause of the greatest sorrow and the deepest regret," Charles said.
"There were abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence committed against Kenyans as they waged, as you said at the United Nations, a painful struggle for independence and sovereignty – and for that, there can be no excuse."
The British monarch said he plans to "deepen my own understanding of these wrongs" during his visit to Kenya and "meet some of those whose lives and communities were so grievously affected."
Though "none of this can change the past," Charles said, "by addressing our history with honesty and openness we can, perhaps, demonstrate the strength of our friendship today. And, in so doing, we can, I hope, continue to build an ever-closer bond for the years ahead," he concluded. "As Jomo Kenyatta said, 'Our children may learn about the heroes of the past. Our task is to make ourselves the architects of the future.'"
Britain's colonial past in Kenya explained
In the age of colonialism, Kenya was one of the jewels of the British Empire. It was the starting point for an ambitious railway project linking the Indian Ocean coast with the African interior and the destination for thousands of white settlers who built coffee and tea plantations.
But the colonial administration also replaced Black leaders, pushed local people off their land and imposed crippling taxes.
That set the stage for the Mau Mau Rebellion of the 1950s, which hastened the end of colonial rule, but continues to cloud relations between the U.K. and Kenya. Colonial authorities resorted to executions and detention without trial as they tried to put down the insurrection, and thousands of Kenyans said they were beaten and sexually assaulted by agents of the administration.
King Charles takes monarchy's slave ties'profoundly seriously,' supports probe
In 2013, the U.K. government condemned the "torture and ill-treatment" that took place during the rebellion as it announced a 19.9 million-pound settlement with more than 5,000 victims
Kenya became independent in 1963, but the country has maintained close, if sometimes troubled, ties with the U.K.
Contributing: Danica Kirka and Evelyne Musambi, The Associated Press
Earthshot Prize in NYC:Prince William says 'optimism' and 'hope' is key to climate reform
veryGood! (72166)
Related
- It's Red Cup Day at Starbucks: Here's how to get your holiday cup and cash in on deals
- Kentucky sues Express Scripts, alleging it had a role in the deadly opioid addiction crisis
- Prince fans can party overnight like it’s 1999 with Airbnb rental of ‘Purple Rain’ house
- Tropical Weather Latest: Millions still without power from Helene as flooding continues
- Benny Blanco Reveals Selena Gomez's Rented Out Botanical Garden for Lavish Date Night
- Sean Diddy Combs Accused of Rape and Impregnating a Woman in New Lawsuit
- NY judge denies governor’s bid to toss suit challenging decision to halt Manhattan congestion fee
- Democrats challenge Ohio order preventing drop-box use for those helping voters with disabilities
- Oil Industry Asks Trump to Repeal Major Climate Policies
- Minnesota reports rare human death from rabies
Ranking
- Agents search home of ex-lieutenant facing scrutiny as police probe leak of school shooting evidence
- Latina governor of US border state will attend inauguration of Mexico’s first female president
- Horoscopes Today, September 27, 2024
- Johnny Depp Reprises Pirates of the Caribbean Role as Captain Jack Sparrow for This Reason
- Medical King recalls 222,000 adult bed assistance rails after one reported death
- Former 'Survivor' player, Louisiana headmaster convicted of taping students' mouths shut
- Sharpton and Central Park Five members get out the vote in battleground Pennsylvania
- New Orleans, US Justice Department move to end police department’s consent decree
Recommendation
-
Old Navy's Early Black Friday Deals Start at $1.97 -- Get Holiday-Ready Sweaters, Skirts, Puffers & More
-
Zendaya’s New Wax Figure Truly Rewrites the Stars
-
‘Saturday Night Live’ launches 50th season with Jean Smart, Jelly Roll and maybe Maya as Kamala
-
Latest talks between Boeing and its striking machinists break off without progress, union says
-
About Charles Hanover
-
NMSU football play-caller Tyler Wright's social media has dozens of racist, sexist posts
-
CEO of hospital operator facing Senate scrutiny will step down following contempt resolution
-
The Chilling True Story Behind Into the Fire: Murder, Buried Secrets and a Mother's Hunch