King Willem-Alexander Claus George Ferdinand, the Netherlands’ Head of State, has confirmed he will meet with Kenyans at the Dutch Embassy in Nairobi on Thursday – March 19, 2025.
He announced the meeting during his bilateral presser with President William Ruto at State House Nairobi.
The King’s confirmation to meet Kenyans comes in the wake of over 300 letters sent by Kenyans to the King in the early days of his announced visit to Kenya.
Respect the Rule of Law
It was in January, a period which was marked by cases of abductions and mysterious disappearances of government critics, some of whom have been discovered dead.
At the press conference, King Willem-Alexander said a safer and more prosperous nation must uphold human rights and the rule of law.
“Legal certainty is essential to Kenya’s development and must be respected,” the King asserted.
On January 15, 2025, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs acknowledged receiving over 300 emails from Kenyans urging the cancellation of the state visit by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima.
The Dutch public broadcaster, Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS), reported that while the Ministry recognized the influx of emails, it affirmed that the visit would proceed as planned, with its diplomatic significance as an opportunity to address these issues.
“Foreign Affairs confirms, also on behalf of the RVD, that they have received at least three hundred emails about the royal visit to Kenya but do not yet have the full picture and are still investigating this,” said NOS.
Also Read: Kenya, Netherlands Sign Three Deals to Strengthen Bilateral Ties
In his address at State House, with President Ruto present, the King announced his intention to meet with young Kenyans to listen to their perspectives on recent events.
King’s Bag of Goodies for Kenyans
He also urged Kenya to prioritize human rights, good governance, and accountability, principles he described as reflective of a nation’s economic progress.
Even as he meets a section of Kenyan Youth, the King has promised several projects to foster bilateral ties between the two countries
The two signed a letter of intent which revealed a forthcoming investment of €3 million from the Netherlands into Kenya’s water and sanitation infrastructure.
This deal will also see €1.5 million allocated to the development of the Naivasha Special Economic Zone and its sanitation projects.
The remaining €1.5 million will fund the Sabaki bulk water supply initiative in Kilifi County, aimed at ensuring clean and reliable water access.
