A senior political figure in Kenya has recently expressed frustration with his subordinates after numerous Kenyans sent emails to the Royal House of the Netherlands.
These emails urged the cancellation of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima’s planned state visit to Kenya.
The Dutch royals are scheduled to visit Kenya from March 18 to March 20, 2025, at the invitation of President William Ruto.
The visit aims to strengthen the relationship between the two countries, focusing on areas like sustainable agriculture, water management, and climate action.
Economic missions concentrating on sustainable agriculture and water will take place alongside the royal visit.
However, some Kenyans have expressed concerns about the visit, citing issues such as insecurity and governance.
These concerns have led to a social media campaign with the hashtag #CancelStateVisit, urging the Dutch royal family to reconsider their plans.
Critics argue that the visit could legitimize a government accused of human rights violations, corruption, and other malpractices.
Kenya has faced challenges in recent years, including disputed elections and allegations of police brutality during protests.
In August 2022, Kenya held a disputed presidential election that, after an unsuccessful court challenge by the main opposition candidate, Raila Odinga, resulted in the declared winner, William Samoei Ruto, forming a new government.
Despite promises made by President Ruto during campaigns to respect human rights, the human rights trajectory in Kenya has further deteriorated over the past year.
Kenyan and international groups have continued to implicate police and other security agencies in serious human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings.
The authorities have failed to ensure accountability for these abuses, including by failing to investigate and prosecute police officers implicated in the abuses during opposition protests in 2023.
The social media campaign against the royal visit reflects a broader dissatisfaction among some Kenyans with the current state of governance and security in the country.
The hashtag #CancelStateVisit trended on social media for the better part of the weekend, with overwhelming calls for the Dutch royal family to reconsider their plans.
Many social media users have written emails, urging the royals to reconsider the visit.
As of now, neither the Dutch nor the Kenyan governments have responded to these concerns.
The state visit is still scheduled to proceed as planned.
The Dutch and Kenyan governments have yet to respond to the concerns raised.
The situation highlights the complexities of international relations, where diplomatic engagements can be influenced by domestic issues and public opinion.
It remains to be seen how both governments will address the concerns raised by Kenyan citizens and whether the planned state visit will proceed without further controversy.
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