King Charles III to Visit Kenya Later this Month

By Samuel Ouma

King Charles III will visit Kenya from October 31 to November 3, announced the UK Government.

In a statement, the UK government said Queen Camilla will accompany the King.

The visit is intended to commemorate the two nations' close relationship and the strong and dynamic collaboration they are forging.

The visit is at President Ruto's invitation.

“His Majesty’s first visit to a Commonwealth nation as King is therefore to the country in which Queen Elizabeth II’s reign began, having acceded to the throne in Kenya in February 1952,” reads the statement in part.

While in the East African country, the King and the Queen will visit Nairobi City, Mombasa Counties and surrounding areas.

They will meet President Ruto, the First Lady, and other Kenyan government officials.

They will also meet UN personnel, CEOs, church leaders, young people, future leaders, and Kenyan Marines training alongside the Royal Marines of the United Kingdom.

The King is also slated to attend a ceremony honouring the late Nobel Laureate Professor Wangari Maathai and Wangari's daughter, Wanjira Mathai.

During the visit, the King and his host, President William Ruto, will highlight how Kenya and the United Kingdom collaborate.

They will examine how their close relations boost mutual prosperity, combat climate change, promote youth opportunity and employment, advance sustainable development, and create a more stable and secure region.

The King and Queen will commemorate the deep ties between the British and Kenyan people in the creative arts, technology, business, education, and innovation sectors.

“The visit will also acknowledge the more painful aspects of the UK and Kenya’s shared history, including the Emergency (1952-1960). His Majesty will take time during the visit to deepen his understanding of the wrongs suffered in this period by the people of Kenya,” read the statement further.