'No excuses' for colonial-era abuses in Kenya, says King Charles but stops short of apology

King Charles the Third of the UK on Wednesday (November 1) acknowledged that there was "no excuse" for colonial-era abuses during Britain's rule in the African country. Charles added he planned to "deepen" his "own understanding" of the "wrongs". He is on a four-day state visit to Kenya with Queen Camilla. He has said that he plans to bolster "a modern partnership of equals facing today's challenges".

Kenya was under British colonial rule till a hard-fought independence in 1963. Over the years, there have been widespread calls for the British Crown to formally apologise for Britain's violent rule in Kenya.

The 74-year-old British head of state said the "wrongdoings of the past are a cause of the greatest sorrow and the deepest regret". However, he stopped short of a formal apology.

"There were abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence committed against Kenyans as they waged... a painful struggle for independence and sovereignty. And for that, there can be no excuse," he said at a state banquet on Tuesday evening.

"None of this can change the past but by addressing our history with honesty and openness, we can perhaps demonstrate the strength of our friendship today, and in so doing, we can I hope continue to build an ever-closer bond for the years ahead."

Watch | King Charles III arrives at Kenya State House as he begins state visit

Although he has visited Kenya three times before this in an official capacity, this is King Charles' first tour of the country, part of the British Commonwealth, since he became king.

The Kenyan media wasn't soft on King Charles.

"Facing the Empire's dark past," said a headline carried by The Standard newspaper on Wednesday.

Although the media was sceptical about what amends King Charles can make, there were suggestions that he could make efforts to return artefacts, which include the skull of a revered tribal leader who was a prominent figure leading a bloody resistance against colonial rule more than a hundred years ago.

Kenyan President William Ruto gave a ceremonial red carpet welcome to King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Tuesday. The royals then laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior in the Uhuru Gardens Memorial Park.

(With inputs from agencies)