UK Responds After Kenyan Journalists Lament Mistreatment During King Charles Visit

The British High Commission in Kenya has broken its silence following alleged complaints by Kenyan journalists deployed to cover the visit of King Charles III and Queen Camilla during their four-day state visit of being subjected to racial mistreatment and segregation throughout the visit.

In a notice to journalists and editors seen by Viral Tea, the commission revealed that it will hold a feedback session regarding the recent state visit on Wednesday, November 15, alongside the Kenya Editors' Guild (KEG) at the Sarova Stanley Hotel in Nairobi.

"The British High Commission Nairobi and the Kenya Editors' Guild will hold a feedback session on the recent State Visit by King Charles III and Queen Camilla to Kenya," read the notice in part.

Furthermore, the commission revealed that the session would be open to journalists and editors of the media outlets accredited to cover the visit.

Signage showing the British High Commission in Kenya. /UK IN KENYA

"Tea, coffee and cake will be provided," added the notice, further noting that journalists who may be unable to attend are advised to send written feedback to the commission via email.

However, a section of journalists poked holes into the invite coming after they complained of encountering racial undertones and felt that they were being mistreated and degraded in their own country.

"Terrible! British High Commission dangling tea, coffee & cake to Kenyan journalists & editors after they complained of being racially abused & discriminated against despite being accredited to cover King Charles in Nairobi. They are being invited to tell BHC how BHC mistreated them," award-winning climate journalist Leon Lidigu stated in part.

"Pure mockery. I see it as a way of trying to spin and make it about food. Covering up the bigger issues. Racial undertones," Mwangi Maina, who was the first journalist to expose behind-the-scenes events surrounding the coverage of the Royal couple, weighed in.

Mwangi in early November gave his account of segregation that 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," he 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.