After previous statements of regret over slavery by the King – when he was Prince of Wales – in Rwanda, Ghana, and Barbados and similar from Prince William in the Caribbean last year, it was Kenya’s turn this week to be told by Charles III that what Britain did in the past was abhorrent.
His keynote speech, at an eight-course state banquet in Nairobi, condemning the colonial torture and killing of Kenyans once labelled terrorists but now regarded by the UK as freedom fighters was well received by the host government.
“While there have been efforts to atone for the death, injury and suffering inflicted on Kenyan Africans by the colonial government, much remains to be done in order to achieve full reparations,” he said.
That demand for reparations is a refrain the British Government and the Royal Family hear often now from the authorities in African and Caribbean nations that were once part of the Empire.
Britain, which insists the Empire brought many benefits as well as problems to the countries that were part of it, has so far set its face against paying reparations but has long been one of the world’s biggest aid donors to developing countries.
With China making so many in-roads in the Third World might it yet be in Britain’s strategic interests to link future payments, perhaps through the Commonwealth, to a desire to make amends for the sins of the past?
Few ordinary people trying to make ends meet on the streets of Nairobi or Mombassa have appeared too concerned about all of this during the visit, it has to be said. Indeed many seemed to think it was just time to move on.
England’s Premier League football appeared to be of much more interest to many among the 55 million population in a country where the average age is 19.
But they may benefit from the closer political and trade ties this state visit may eventually bring.
Kenya is an important strategic partner for Britain in a part of the world where neighbouring countries have often created instability.
King Charles, feted by his Kenyan hosts for his years of work promoting environmentalism, interfaith tolerance, and employment opportunities for young people around the world, has helped paved the way for those close ties.
Queen Camilla, despite not normally enjoying the heat and humidity, has shown once again that she is a real trouper. Some mischief-makers on social media were suggesting she looked uncomfortable around black people on this trip. But nothing could be further from the truth.
