NAIROBI – King Charles III on Tuesday acknowledged there were abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence committed against Kenyans during the British colonization, saying “the wrongdoings of the past are a cause of the greatest sorrow and the deepest regret”.
Once again failing to apologize for the atrocities committed during the brutal colonial rule, especially during the state of emergency period, King Charles said in returning to Kenya, it matters greatly to him that he should deepen his understanding of those wrongs, and that he meets some of those whose lives and communities were grievously affected.
“None of this can change the past. But 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 said at a State Banquet at State House, Nairobi..
On his part, President William Ruto said enough has not been done on suffering inflicted on Kenyans.
The President said that although it has been indicated Kenya and the UK are celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations, “this by no means implies that the two peoples were total strangers before that, neither does it mean that we live in denial of our history”.
“We also note with appreciation your expression of willingness to acknowledge the painful aspects of our shared history, your exemplary courage and readiness to shed light on uncomfortable truths that reside in the darker regions of our shared experience are also very commendable,” President Ruto said.
And in building a closer bond ahead, the King said, “It is a modern partnership of equals, facing today’s challenges, and looking to the many opportunities that, together, we can seize”.
The President said he trusts that the first visit by the King and the Queen to a Commonwealth country since his coronation will inspire King Charles III to forge ahead with a strong vision for stronger Kenya – UK partnership and of the commonwealth as a beacon of hope for humanity.
The King visited Uhuru Gardens national monument and museum, where he laid wreath in honour of Kenya’s freedom fighters and took a tour of 72-metre long tunnel of martyrs.
However, the start of the state visit was marred by various petitions for addressing injustices committed by the colonial government.
The Sengwer indigenous community, for instance, petitioned the UK for the injustices the colonial government subjected them to between 1895 to 1963, which persisted post-independence.
The petition to King Charles III through the UK High Commission accuses the colonial government of alienation of the community’s ancestral land that became white settlement farms in the plains of Kapchepkoilel in Trans Nzoia (the whole of Cherangany subcounty; parts of Kwanza, Saboti and Kiminini subcounties); parts of Bungoma, Kakamenga and Uasin Gishu counties.
Through a petition by Paul Kitum, chairman of Sengwer Council of Elders, the community said they not only lost approximately 457,633 acres of all their prime land to white settlement farmers but also their identity, culture and language, which they are trying to restore.
In this regard, the community demanded restitution and reparation of their lost ancestral lands to the white settlers and the 100 square miles of land in Lelan.
“Forest preservation policy from 1930s to 1960s colonial government gazetted our ancestral lands and homes as government forests – Kabolet (1941), Kapkanyar, Kipteberr (1967), Sogotio (1941), Kaisungor (1941), Chemurgoi (1941), Kerer (1954), Embobut (1954), Kipkunur (1941), Torapket (1941), Lelan (1958), Cheboyit (1941).
They called on the British government to fund documentation, protection and preservation of Sengwer traditional economies that are in harmony with sustainable conservation and protection of forests and fragile ecosystem such as bee keeping and herbal medicine.
They also petitioned that the UK government funds research and documentation of Sengwer traditional forest-related knowledge that promotes conservation and customs; revitalization, documentation, protection and preservation of Sengwer language, culture and traditions; construction and equipping of Sengwer Cultural Centres in Talau (West Pokot), Kapolet (Trans Nzoia) and Tangul (Elgeyo Marakwet) and also call for the recognition and support of ancient Sengwer technology i.e iron monger in Cherangany Hills.
The Nandi elders called for the UK to return the skull of Koitalele arap Samoei, who was killed in 1905 by the colonialists. The skull is believed to be in a UK museum.
The elders also demanded the return of other stolen cultural artefacts as well as compensation for the atrocities that took place against the Nandi community during colonial rule.
Kipsigis Talai clan demands compensation for land lost to colonialists, while Abagusii elders demanded the return of head of freedom fighter Otenyo Nyamaterere.
