King Charles was pressed for an apology during a state visit to Kenya

Even before Great Britain’s King Charles landed in Kenya, demands were made for an apology from the British Commonwealth for wrongdoing. The demand comes from the Kenya Human Rights Commission and from people who fought against colonial rule in the 50s.

– The first thing I want to ask is King Charles, why did you remain silent when your subjects were killed, imprisoned and detained in Kenya? Kidu wa Kahengeri, a veteran of the Mau Mau uprising that killed 10,000 people, told SVT’s African correspondent Johan Ribas that you called them terrorists when in fact they were freedom fighters who wanted to liberate their country.

expressed regret

– You want some kind of compensation, recognition of the painful past, says Johan Ribas.

Britain expressed regret for the abuses and in 2013 offered £20 million to victims of the uprising. BBC.

According to Keyans, regret is not enough, instead many seek genuine forgiveness.

During his visit, King Charles will meet with young Kenyans in the technology sector and look at renewable energy – a move he has interpreted as wanting to focus on the future rather than the past.

– It is clear that King Charles wants to turn back and forget history, says Johann Ribas.

In a statement, Buckingham Palace said, “Her Majesty will take time during this visit to deepen her understanding of the injustices suffered by the people of Kenya during this period.”

In the clip above, Johan Ribas tells how the visit was received by Kenyans and what it means for King Charles.