Nairobi — King Charles III has arrived in Kenya, accompanied by Queen Camilla, kicking off a four-day historic visit.
The Royal Air Force carrying The King and The Queen touched down at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) shortly before 11pm.
They are expected at State House on Tuesday morning for a formal ceremonial welcome ahead of talks with President William Ruto.
Officials say Their Majesties will receive full military honours.
The King and the Queen have an elaborate itinerary in Nairobi and Mombasa in the historic visit aimed at solidifying Kenya-UK relations.
Buckingham Palace said the King and Queen (Camilla) will take in the best of Kenya, from its young tech entrepreneurs and creatives to its beautiful forests and coastline.
However, much of the focus ahead of the trip has been on colonial rule, with the palace saying Charles is expected to tackle “the more painful aspects” of its historic relationship with Kenya.
Rights groups and survivors have exerted pressure since last week, demanding a public apology and reparations in billions.
The visit comes as Kenya prepares to celebrate 60 years of independence and will spotlight the strong and dynamic partnership between the UK and Kenya.
Their Majesties will meet a diverse range of Kenyans reflecting the strong people to people ties which exist between our two nations, with a particular focus on Kenya’s young people.
They will also spend time with conservationists, environmental activists, artists, entrepreneurs, veterans, the Kenya Wildlife Service, as well as schoolchildren. At the Coast, Her Majesty will spend time with survivors of gender-based violence, while His Majesty will engage with religious leaders who are working with UK-funded programmes to promote community cohesion.
The Royal Visit will also acknowledge the more painful aspects of the United Kingdom and Kenya’s shared history, including during the Emergency period (1952-1960). His Majesty will take time during his visit to meet and listen to Kenyans who experienced or whose loved ones experienced the ills of this period first hand.
Their Majesties will visit a new museum dedicated to telling Kenya’s history through Kenyan voices and will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unkown Warrior, at Uhuru Gardens National Monument & Museum, as well as visiting the Mugumo tree at the site where the Kenyan flag was raised for the first time in December 1963.
British High Commissioner, Neil Wigan, said:
“As Kenya prepares to mark 60 years of independence, I am delighted that Their Majesties have accepted the President’s invitation to make Kenya their first State Visit outside of Europe, and their first in the Commonwealth.
Coming in 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.”
During the visit, His Majesty will meet veterans and give his blessing to efforts by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission to ensure Kenyans and Africans who supported British efforts in the World Wars are properly commemorated.
Conservation and tackling climate change will be a key theme running through the visit as Their Majesties engage the Kenya Wildlife Service, see how coastal communities are supporting marine conservation and meet inspiring young Kenyan conservationists.
The Royal couple will see first-hand the impact of UK support to entrepreneurs and start-ups through the UK-Kenya Tech Hub and to the creative industries through the British Council. His Majesty will also visit UN Headquarters in Nairobi, where he will meet with top African CEOs involved in the Sustainable Markets Initiative and hear about the vital work of UN Habitat and the UN Environment Programme (UNEP).
The Royal Visit will mark a pivotal moment in the UK-Kenya partnership, proving once again that our two countries go far when they go together.