The final day of King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s state visit to Kenya was disrupted by heavy rains and floods as they toured the historic heart of Mombasa. The inclement weather derailed their plans to ride in an electric tuktuk to Fort Jesus, a 400-year-old UNESCO World Heritage site in Mombasa’s Old Town.
As a result of the heavy rains, the royal couple was unable to proceed with their original plans and instead briefly posed for photographs inside the decorated three-wheeler vehicle, which featured a bold African pattern and a Union Jack logo.
The heavy rains that hit Mombasa are part of a broader weather pattern affecting the region. The UN’s humanitarian agency, OCHA, predicted heavier than normal rains in eastern Africa over the October-December period due to the El Niño phenomenon, which is associated with increased heat and heavy rainfall in some regions.
During their visit, King Charles III and Queen Camilla focused on various issues, with a strong emphasis on combatting climate change and supporting creative arts, technology, and young people. King Charles, a dedicated environmentalist, highlighted the need for society to work together to address global warming, biodiversity loss, and climate change.
However, the royal visit to Kenya has stirred mixed emotions, as it comes with calls for an official apology from Britain for its colonial-era actions in Kenya. At a state banquet earlier in the week, King Charles acknowledged the “abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence” committed during Kenya’s struggle for independence but stopped short of issuing a formal apology.
The Mau Mau uprising between 1952 and 1960 saw the colonial-era authorities brutally suppress the independence struggle, resulting in the deaths of at least 10,000 people, predominantly from the Kikuyu tribe, though some estimates place the number much higher. Tens of thousands more were detained without trial, where reports of torture, executions, and beatings were common.
King Charles held private talks with descendants of influential independence leaders, Dedan Kimathi and Mekatilili wa Menza, during his stay in Nairobi. On his final day in Mombasa, he visited the Mandhry Mosque and the Memorial Cathedral, participating in an interfaith meeting.
The royal visit has drawn attention to the complex legacy of colonialism in Kenya and the ongoing efforts to reconcile the past with the present. While an apology remains a contentious issue, the royal couple’s emphasis on environmental and social initiatives underscores the evolving dynamics of the UK-Kenya relationship.