Kenyans in Netherlands deliver petition seeking reconsideration of Dutch royals' visit

A delegation of Kenyans in the Netherlands has formally submitted a petition urging the Dutch government to reconsider King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima’s planned state visit to Kenya in March 2025.

The petition, signed by over 22,000 Kenyans and allies worldwide, raised concerns over human rights violations under President William Ruto’s administration.  

The petition was delivered to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and received by Human Rights Ambassador Wim Geerts.

During the meeting, Kenyan representatives highlighted issues such as extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, police brutality against protesters, and economic mismanagement.

They argued that proceeding with the visit would signal international approval of a government accused of suppressing dissent and failing to uphold human rights.  

Among the key concerns raised was the Kenyan government’s handling of recent anti-government protests. Citing reports from human rights organizations, the petitioners pointed to cases where police allegedly covered up protest-related killings, misreporting them as accidents.

In response, Ambassador Geerts acknowledged the concerns and assured the delegation that human rights would remain a key discussion point during the state visit.

“It is good to hear what concerns are at stake and to discuss them. That also helps me to do my work better. The Netherlands is discussing this topic in all sorts of ways. This will also be discussed during the state visit, where discussions will be held with the Kenyan authorities as well as with social organisations and young people,” he said.  

Despite this response, the delegation insists that economic and diplomatic interests should not come at the expense of human rights, calling on the Dutch government to take a firmer stance by either postponing the visit or making an official statement recognising the human rights crisis in Kenya.