Separate Buses, Dry Food: Kenyan Journalists Lament Mistreatment During King Charles Visit

Kenyan journalists deployed to cover the visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla during their four-day state visit have complained of being subjected to racial mistreatment and segregation throughout the visit.

Led by award-winning journalist, Mwangi Maina, the journalists lamented that they encountered racial undertones and felt that they were being mistreated and degraded in their own country.

His account of segregation ranged from improper meals that included stale sandwiches to transportation during the Royal couple's visit.

"Journalists have complained of being segregated from their British counterparts during pool transportation and not receiving proper meals, despite Kenyan taxpayers partly funding this high-level visit," Mwangi stated on X (formerly Twitter)

"Organisers allegedly separated local journos from Kenya & the UK drawing criticism and claims of racial discrimination."

According to the journalist, the segregation began on the eve of the King's visit when three separate buses were designated for journalists: two for the royal editors, correspondents, and photographers from the UK, and another one for the Kenyan-based counterparts, all of which were labelled "UK Media" and "Local Media".

During the visit, Kenyan journalists were also reportedly going without breakfast, water and lunch while journalists from the UK were given packed food.

"The Britons received preferential treatment during meal time, despite the Kenyan and UK state teams agreeing on the distribution of food equally. The issue is not about food or water but contempt.

"In one incident, some Kenyan-based journalists were not provided lunch, only to be offered a few leftover food boxes later. Upon opening, they discovered stale sandwiches, unwrapped cupcake papers, and used toothpicks," he continued.

The situation reportedly escalated almost a week before the Royal Visit when Kenyan journalists covering the tour were bundled into one WhatsApp group, which had restrictions that prevented them from engaging in any discussion.

Mwangi narrated that the restrictions prompted him to raise the matter with the organisers of the visit, who responded by telling him they placed the restrictions to streamline communication.

However, they had a change of heart and removed the restrictions, allowing journalists to interact freely with the subject being mainly the visit.

Furthermore, during the Royal couple's visit, a scuffle reportedly ensued at the Nairobi Kariokor (Carriers Corp) cemetery involving a UK diplomat and a group of three individuals: two military officers linked to a defence press unit and a civilian journalist.

The diplomat confronted the trio at the cemetery, insisting that they relocate to predetermined fixed positions. At the time, there were two positions; press pools and fixed positions.

Foreign journalists also gave their views on the visit, criticising the red-carpet rollout for King Charles III and Queen Camilla to avoid soil at Nairobi National Park, a matter reportedly out of touch with the event's natural surroundings. Some even revealed scenarios of Kenyan leaders using red carpets during high-profile events.

Another Kenyan journalist revealed that during the segregation of press buses, foreign media organisations covering the Royal visit were forced to foot their own costs while Kenyan media were being ferried for free.

The journalist, furthermore, in a conversation with Viral Tea, further noted that a joint media production regarding the visit would have avoided the messy situation, lamenting the brutal competition that exists between media houses in the country.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla received at Nairobi National Park. /X.MWANGI MAINA

The British High Commission was yet to officially respond to the matter by the time of publishing this article.

One notable instance of the Royal Family being linked to racism claims came when Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle in a March 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey accused the royal family of condoning tabloids’ racist treatment of Meghan, claiming further that unnamed royals had conversations about how dark their son’s skin tone would be before his birth.