By Ere-ebi Agedah
Hundreds of Kenyan citizens of British origin living in Nyeri gathered at a small church for a memorial service to remember Queen Elizabeth II on Saturday at the church where the late Queen worshipped as a princess before ascending to the throne.
Like many other former British colonies, Kenya has a complicated relationship with the monarchy.
George Omuwe, a lawyer who attended the service said that the Queen must be celebrated despite divergent views.
“We must celebrate her as a human being, mother and grandmother to her family but at the same time we must state that she has never acknowledged or apologized for the atrocities that were visited upon our parents and grandparents when they were demanding their freedom,” he said
He was referring to the Mau Mau rebellion against British colonial rule during which many Kenyans say they were beaten and sexually assaulted by officers acting for the British administration.
St. Philip’s church is where the late Queen worshipped as a princess before ascending to the throne. In 2013, Kenya declared the church a national monument.
The Queen was head of state in Kenya from 1963 to 1964 when the country was an independent sovereign state, and visited on her honeymoon.
On September 9, former President Uhuru Kenyatta declared four days of mourning in honour of the departed monarch. He said Kenya would observe a period of national mourning from Friday, September 9 until sunset Monday, September 12.
During this period, the Kenyan flag flew at half mast in all Kenyan diplomatic missions, public buildings grounds, all military bases, posts and stations, and all naval vessels of the Republic of Kenya.
The Queen will be buried on Monday evening in the King George VI memorial chapel at Windsor Castle in a private service for members of the Royal Family.
