Dutch King Willem-Alexander emphasized human rights during his Kenya visit amid allegations of abuses. His visit faced opposition, but it proceeded as planned. Kenya's government is under scrutiny for suppressing dissent and detaining critics, despite its recent election to the UN Human Rights Council.

Dutch King Willem-Alexander addressed the issue of human rights during his state visit to Kenya on Tuesday, as allegations of abuses in the country continue to mount. Speaking in Nairobi, the king emphasized the shared aspirations of both Dutch and Kenyan citizens for freedom and respect.

"The people of Kenya, like those of the Netherlands, want their rights as free citizens to be respected and their voices to be heard," he stated, adding that human rights would be a key topic of discussion during his visit.

Expressing confidence in the diplomatic ties between the two nations, Willem-Alexander remarked, "I am pleased that our countries' strong and mature relationship allows us to devote attention during this visit to issues like human rights, good governance, and accountability."

Despite this, the royal visit has faced opposition. Over 20,000 Kenyans signed a petition on Change.org urging King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima to reconsider their trip. Additionally, the Dutch government confirmed receiving more than 300 emails last month requesting the visit’s cancellation. However, officials maintained that the visit would proceed as planned.

The Dutch royals arrived in Kenya on Monday night for a three-day visit. On Tuesday morning, King Willem-Alexander received a 21-gun salute and inspected an honor guard at the official government office of Kenyan President William Ruto.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s government has been accused of suppressing dissent, particularly in the wake of the June 2024 anti-government protests, where demonstrators stormed parliament in response to newly passed tax laws. Authorities have been criticized for detaining critics, curbing free speech, and allegedly orchestrating state-linked abductions of young men over social media posts deemed offensive to the president.

In December, protests against widespread kidnappings and disappearances led to the arrest of dozens of peaceful demonstrators. Despite concerns over its human rights record, Kenya was elected to the United Nations Human Rights Council in October 2024, joining several other African Nations.