King Charles and his wife, Camilla, are currently visiting Kenya for a four-day state visit, during which the King plans to address the painful aspects of the UK’s colonial past. The Mau Mau uprising in the 1950s, one of the bloodiest insurgencies in British Empire history, resulted in the death of over 10,000 people and the torture of many others. In 2013, the UK expressed regret and paid £20m in compensation to over 5,000 individuals, but some believe this was insufficient.
Agnes Muthoni, a 90-year-old Mau Mau veteran, takes us to her husband’s grave in Shamata, central Kenya. She proudly shows us her wedding ring, explaining that her husband, General Bahati, met her after the rebellion ended and he was released from detention. She believes that forgiveness is essential for human beings to move forward, but she also hopes to receive land as a form of compensation for their suffering.
Even after Kenya gained independence, former Mau Mau fighters like Agnes and her husband continued to live in the shadows. The Mau Mau remained outlawed and were designated as a terrorist organization by both the colonial government and subsequent administrations in independent Kenya. The ban was only lifted in 2003, which meant that subsequent generations had little knowledge of this painful period in their country’s history.
Paul Muite, a Kenyan lawyer and politician, calls for a commission of inquiry to document the colonial period in detail, as many aspects of this “painful past” have been hidden from the public. He argues that compensation should be provided to all those who suffered, including not only the Mau Mau fighters but also those who supported them and fought against colonialism in different ways.
Caroline Elkins, a historian, believes that while the King’s acknowledgment of these events will be significant, it is crucial to insist upon comprehensive investigations, changes to history books and museums in Britain, and funding for Kenya to establish its own museums and cultural artifacts. She also reminds us that the atrocities committed during the state of emergency were done in the name of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Mau Mau attacks were brutal, and the colonial government responded with a harsh crackdown that included internment camps and brutal violence. As many as 320,000 people were interned, and thousands were executed or died as a result. Many Kenyans, like Agnes, were forced to live in dire conditions in the forest, while the fertile land of central Kenya and the Rift Valley was reserved for settler farmers.
While Agnes holds no bitterness in her heart and believes in forgiveness, she hopes to be given land as a form of compensation. She acknowledges that the past is gone, but she believes that acknowledging the suffering and providing restitution is essential for healing and moving forward.
As King Charles visits Kenya and addresses its colonial past, many young Kenyans are more focused on the economy and wonder if his visit will have any real impact. The legacy of empire remains visible in Nairobi, with British legal, governance, and educational structures still prevalent. However, much of the knowledge about the more painful aspects of colonialism has not been passed down through the generations.
In conclusion, while King Charles’s acknowledgment of the UK’s colonial past and his visit to Kenya are significant, there is still much work to be done in terms of uncovering the hidden history, providing comprehensive compensation, and promoting healing and reconciliation.
