Dutch government confirms receiving over 300 emails from Kenyans opposing planned monarchs' visit

The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed receiving over 300 emails from Kenyans requesting the cancellation of a planned state visit by His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima, scheduled from March 18 to March 20, 2025.

This surge of appeals follows the Royal House of the Netherlands' announcement last week that the three-day visit, at the invitation of President William Ruto, represents a significant milestone in the diplomatic relations between Kenya and the Netherlands.

However, some Kenyans online have opposed the visit, citing concerns over the country's current state of affairs, including human rights violations such as abductions and enforced disappearances of government critics and opposition figures from neighbouring countries.

Dutch public broadcaster Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS) reported that the Foreign Affairs Ministry acknowledged the wave of emails but clarified that the visit remains on schedule, emphasising its diplomatic importance as a platform to address these concerns.

"Foreign Affairs confirms when asked, also on behalf of the RVD, that they have received at least three hundred e-mails about the royal visit to Kenya but do not yet have the full picture and are still investigating this," NOS stated.

In a written response, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also speaking on behalf of the Government Information Service (RVD), acknowledged awareness of the reported human rights violations in Kenya, emphasising that the Netherlands regularly speaks out against such abuses, both publicly and in engagements with Kenyan authorities.

"The Ministry sees the visit as an opportunity to discuss difficult topics such as human rights violations," the statement said.

This will mark the first-ever state visit to Kenya by the Dutch monarchs.