King Charles Begins Visit to Kenya

King Charles begins an official four-day visit to Kenya today, the first to a former colony, during which he intends to acknowledge the "painful aspects" of a shared history marked by nearly seven decades of colonial rule. King Charles and Queen Camilla arrived in the East African country overnight and will be received by Kenyan President William Ruto in the capital, Nairobi, this morning. Buckingham Palace states that the visit reflects the close cooperation between the two countries in areas of economic development, climate change, and security issues. Charles plans to meet with entrepreneurs in Kenya's thriving technology sector and to embark on a tour of wildlife facilities. He and Camilla will also head to the coastal city of Mombasa in southeastern Kenya. However, many Kenyans are more focused on what Charles will say about the violations of the colonial era, including torture, killings, and widespread land confiscation, most of which still belongs to British citizens or companies. The UK government had previously expressed regret for the abuses that occurred during this period, known to Kenyans as "the emergency," and agreed to an out-of-court settlement of nearly £20 million in 2013. Charles and Camilla will tour a new national history museum, visit the site where independence was declared in 1963, and lay a wreath on the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Buckingham Palace stated, "His Majesty the King will take some time during the visit to deepen his understanding of the wrongs suffered by the people of Kenya during this period."