Kenyans' rights should be respected, Dutch King tells Ruto

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands has asked President William Ruto’s administration to respect the fundamental rights of all Kenyan citizens, emphasising the need for good governance, democracy and accountability.

Speaking on Tuesday during his three-day State visit to Kenya, the Dutch monarch said matters of human rights, good governance and accountability, will be key focus areas during his stay.

He revealed that he would be meeting Kenyan youth at the Netherlands embassy to gain insight into their concerns, following calls from Kenyans urging him to reconsider the State visit.

"The people of Kenya, like those in the Netherlands, want their rights as free citizens to be respected and their voices heard. I'm pleased that our countries' strong relationship allows us to devote attention during this visit to issues such as human rights, good governance, and accountability," he said.

"We are grateful to discuss the concerns existing in these areas. Later this morning, we will meet young Kenyans to get their views on recent developments.”

Following a meeting at State House, President Ruto and King Willem-Alexander signed three Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) and a letter of intent aimed at strengthening bilateral relations. The agreements cover key sectors such as trade, agriculture, and tourism, while the leaders also explored potential collaborations in security and climate action.

King Willem-Alexander expressed optimism about the agreements, stating, "Kenya is a self-assured nation that is proud of its economic performance, democracy, institutions, and international role. This visit shows how interests are aligned and how close these two countries are."

His visit comes at a time when concerns over human rights violations in Kenya have been mounting.

Over the past months, security agencies have faced accusations of excessive force and enforced disappearances in response to anti-government protests that began in June last year.

Amnesty International had urged the Dutch royals to use their diplomatic influence to push for transparency and justice for victims of excessive force by the police.

The group raised concerns over masked agents abducting activists with impunity, calling for an end to the violations.

“The three Dutch ministers and the Royal Couple must ensure human rights are central to diplomatic relations. Economic, military, and other interests should not take precedence over fundamental rights,” the organisation said.

Data from the Kenya Human Rights Commission indicates that out of the 82 people reported missing since June, 29 remain unaccounted for, raising alarm over the state of security and human rights in the country.

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