An online petition calling for the cancellation of the Dutch Royal Family’s planned state visit to Kenya has gathered more than 9,000 signatures since its launch on Wednesday, January 15, 2025.
The petition, started by Jaya Khamala, urges the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs to reconsider King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima’s scheduled visit to Kenya in March 2025.
Khamala who was recently quoted by Dutch broadcaster (Nederlandse Omroep Stichting, NOS) in an article dated January 14, 2025, is a Kenyan who has been living in the Netherlands for seven years and works as an administrative employee in education.
In her interview with the broadcaster, Kamala said that she had also reached out to the Dutch government and expressed her concerns to them.
“I have already sent several emails to the Government Information Service in the hope that they will listen to me,” NOS reported.
She cites concerns over alleged human rights violations under President William Ruto’s administration as the primary reason for opposing the royal visit.
“This visit should not proceed while Kenya’s current administration, led by President William Ruto, continues to violate fundamental human rights and undermine democratic principles,” the petition reads.
The petition specifically highlights issues of arbitrary arrests, unlawful detention, and physical abuse of citizens, activists, and protesters who have spoken against government policies.
“The visit risks legitimizing a regime with a troubling record on human rights, governance, and accountability,” part of the petition addressed to the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs reads in parts.
The petition further raises concerns about President Ruto’s past involvement with the International Criminal Court (ICC) regarding the 2007-2008 post-election violence in Kenya. The petitioners argue that unresolved questions surrounding his role in the violence remain a significant concern.
“William Ruto’s past involvement with the International Criminal Court (ICC) concerning crimes committed during the 2007-2008 post-election violence raises serious concerns. The unresolved questions surrounding his role in the violence have not been addressed in a way that instils confidence in his commitment to peace, justice, and accountability,” the petitioners say.
According to the petition, cancelling or postponing the state visit would send a strong message about the Netherlands’ commitment to human rights protection and encourage the Kenyan government to implement meaningful reforms.
“By standing firm against human rights abuses, the Dutch government can lead by example and show the world that it will not engage with governments that violate the fundamental rights of their citizens,” the petition states.
Kenyans reaction
In a post shared by Adani whistle-blower Nelson Amenya, on his X account, Kenyans have weighed on the petition eliciting mixed reactions.
“We don’t need a petition to stop the state visit to Kenya by the Netherlands Monarchy. The goal is to give a clear picture of the rot in Kenya’s governance to the global audience. Corruption and human rights violations take precedent,” one user named @PkkipK wrote.
“Waste of time and energy. It’s going to happen as planned,” another user identified as @RonnieOmwa25098 wrote.
Amenya revealed that the petition is targeting a total of 100,000 signatures, a statement that did not sit well with some netizens.
“100k can’t represent Kenyans, go for 25 million,” @joywaw wrote.
“What will we gain by this??” @kibet_ki94662 asked.
“You should be encouraging those visits so that they see what you’re saying first hand. Kenya has about 22 million voters, opinion of 100k hardly impacts anything, try to get at least 2m signatures,” @NjongeAhmed added.
Dutch Royals visit
The Netherlands Information Service on January 7, 2025, announced a planned state visit by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral relations, highlighting Kenya’s growing influence on the global stage.
The visit is expected to take place from March 18, 2025, to March 20, 2025. The royals are visiting the country at the invitation of President William Ruto.
“The Netherlands seeks to engage in new partnerships in various areas and to deepen the countries’ existing ties. Kenya plays an increasingly influential role in the global arena. In addition, the Netherlands and Kenya maintain close economic relations, and both are major hubs and gateways to large regions,” part of the statement added.
