King Charles III, Queen Camilla in Kenya

By Peter Ochieng

United Kingdom's King Charles III and Queen Camilla are in the country for a four-day state visit.

They arrived in the country on Monday night, with Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign and Diaspora Affairs CS Musalia Mudavadi, and British High Commissioner to Kenya Neil Wigan being among dignitaries who recieved the royal family at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), Nairobi.

Ambassador Wigan in a press statement said the visit will strengthen Kenya and UK's relations.

It is the royal family's first visit to Kenya, and outside Europe since their coronation in May, 2023.

“Coming in the year of His Majesty’s Coronation, this visit so early in The King’s reign demonstrates the value we place on the thriving and modern UK-Kenya partnership, which brings mutual benefits to our two nations and the wider region,” Ambassador Wigan said.

The King and the Queen's first stop is expected to be State House Nairobi today, where they will meet president William Ruto and First Lady Rachael Ruto.

Mombasa, Nairobi and surrounding areas are the places they are expected to visit.

Their majesties' Kenyan visit was confirmed on October 11th, 2023 by the UK palace.

"His Majesty will take time during the visit to deepen his understanding of the wrongs suffered in this period by the people of Kenya."

“Their Majesties’ programme will reflect the ways in which Kenya and the United Kingdom are working together, notably to boost mutual prosperity, tackle climate change, promote youth opportunity and employment, advance sustainable development and create a more stable and secure region."

Various human rights groups have called on the King to apologise to Kenyans, over atrocities committed during Britain's colonial rule in Kenya.