We Gave You Democracy & English- Sky News Presenter Clashes With Kenyans Over King Charles' Apology [VIDEO]

Sky News commentator Andrew Bolt caused a huge social media storm among Kenyans after following his explanation of why King Charles III did not and did not have to apologise for atrocities committed by British colonialists when they took control of Kenya.

While hosting the Bolt Report show, the Australian show host questioned why the King acknowledged that many Kenyans suffered under the hands of the colonialists from 1901 to 1960 when the East African country was under colonial rule.

He believed that Kenya would not have enjoyed the developments it is enjoying right now had the colonialists not set foot in the country, including the power of democracy, the rule of law and the gift of speaking English as an official language.

Bolt believed that the King should have instead demonstrated pride, opining that apologising would simply ruin Britain's history.

Here is the video:

Guys I cannot fathom this video ????

Sky news correspondents shame on you . pic.twitter.com/5YsRzgvWbV — Beth Kasinga ???? (@beth_kasinga) November 2, 2023

"There are bad things we did, but there are also good things that we did. We gave you democracy even if Kenya does not always live up to it as it should," Bolt opined.

"We gave you the gifts of the English language, the rule of law, there are many institutional things. I have been to Kenya and I look around and think wow, if the British hadn't been there, then it wouldn't have been quite as good as it is, not that Kenyans have quite lived up to the legacy they ever left."

However, the comments by the Australian conservative columnist only served to anger Kenyans on X (formerly Twitter) and put the British nation at risk of losing an online war before it could have the chance to fight back.

"Guys I cannot fathom this video. Sky News correspondents shame on you," Beth Kasinga, who was the first to share the viral clip, condemned the presenter.

"I'm sorry, what?! They didn't need to give Kenya democracy and the rule of law if they hadn't invaded it in the first place. Kenyans and Africans were living alright before they came here," Chrystal Kristie weighed in.

Others believed that Kenyans already got their languages, telling off the commentator that English was imposed on the school system.

"I suppose I too, would feel angry having to pay for the sins of my grandfathers, but on the other hand, we were the victims of colonialism, they don't get to choose our reaction to it," Wa Irangu, an X user commented.

During his speech at the State House Banquet hosted by President William Ruto on October 31, King Charles revealed that he is seeking to better understand Kenya's painful past and will interact with communities affected.

“It is the intimacy of our shared history that has brought our people together. However, we must also acknowledge the most painful times of our long and complex relationship. The wrongdoings of the past are a cause of the greatest sorrow and the deepest regret,” said the King, without outright issuing an 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."

A photo of King Charles III giving a speech during the State Banquet at State House on October 31, 2023. /PCS

Why The King Cannot Apologise to Kenya

Unknown to many, the King cannot issue an apology without approval from the United Kingdom Executive. This is because the King does not possess a political or Executive role, despite being in the Monarch which is the oldest form of government in the United Kingdom.

Therefore, he doesn't have the power to pass legislation or make pronouncements with significant political implications with that role being a preserve of the elected government.

However, the British government has previously acknowledged the atrocities and agreed to a Ksh3.6 billion settlement with the Mau Mau Veteran Association in 2013. This is despite several human rights groups demanding the British government to apologise for the colonial era abuses which included killings, torture and forceful seizure of land in the Kenyan territory.

British High Commissioner Neil Wigan, during a recent media interview, stated that the UK government hasn't made an apology in any context, but had expressed deep regret for the brutality.

"An apology starts to take you to a difficult legal territory, and the settlement we made was out of court, so it showed our sincerity and openness in recognising the abuses that were committed. That was the route we chose and accepted to the Mau Mau Veterans Association," he stated on October 24, 2023. 

President Ruto during the banquet stated that Kenyans cannot live as prisoners of the past but would not turn their backs on historical actions and omissions.

"Formal British presence in Kenya was proclaimed in 1897 by an order-in-council, which inaugurated European settlement and the displacement, dispossession and disenfranchisement of native Africans, paving the way for brutal colonialism.

"We cannot live as prisoners of the past. Neither can we go far into the future if we turn our backs on historical actions and omissions whose legacies encumber our present,” he stated.