King Charles III of the United Kingdom and his wife Queen Camilla will go to Kenya at the end of this month for a four-day state visit, Buckingham Palace said on Wednesday.
The visit, which comes as the African country gears up to commemorate 60 years of independence from Britain in December, was invited by President William Ruto, as reported by the American news platform, The Washington Post.
"The King and Queen will undertake a State Visit to Kenya, from October 31 to Friday, November 3, 2023, to celebrate the warm relationship between the two countries and the strong and dynamic partnership they continue to forge," said the palace. "The King and Queen will visit Nairobi City County, Mombasa County, and surrounding areas," said the palace.
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Charles III will be making his first trip to a Commonwealth country since becoming king or queen in September. According to the statement, the program would demonstrate how the two nations are cooperating on a variety of topics.
These involve attempting "to boost prosperity, tackle climate change, promote youth opportunity and employment, advance sustainable development and create a more stable and secure region," it stated.
The king will meet with Kenyan officials, UN employees, religious figures, young people, and Kenyan Marines who are undergoing training alongside UK Royal Marines. He will also attend a celebration for Nobel winner Wangari Maathai.
The UK king will also discuss "the more painful aspects" of the union by examining the time of British colonial control, which ended in 1963.
This would include looking into the "Emergency" of 1952–1960 when a state of emergency was established as a result of the Mau Mau's guerilla war against European settlers in Kenya.
"His Majesty will take time during the visit to deepen his understanding of the wrongs suffered in this period by the people of Kenya," the palace stated.