King Willem-Alexander addressed human rights during his visit to Kenya amidst concerns over abuses. He emphasized the people’s desire for rights recognition. Despite public dissent against the visit, the Dutch royals engaged with Kenyan leadership on governance issues. The visit occurs as Kenya grapples with allegations of state repression and has recently joined the UN Human Rights Council.
During his state visit to Kenya, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands emphasized the importance of respecting human rights, particularly in light of recent allegations of abuses in the country. He stated in Nairobi, “The people of Kenya, like those of The Netherlands, want their rights as free citizens to be respected and their voices to be heard.” This topic was designated for discussion during the visit.
The King expressed satisfaction that the strong relationship between the Netherlands and Kenya allowed for conversations on human rights, governance, and accountability. He remarked, “I am pleased that our countries’ strong and mature relationship allows us to devote attention during this visit to issues such as human rights, good governance and accountability.”
Public dissent regarding the royal visit manifested as over 20,000 Kenyans signed a petition on Change.org requesting the King and Queen Maxima to reconsider their visit. Despite receiving over 300 emails calling for its cancellation, the Dutch government confirmed that the trip would proceed.
Upon arrival in Nairobi, the Dutch royals were welcomed with a 21-gun salute at President William Ruto’s office. King Willem-Alexander is scheduled to remain in Kenya for three days, where he will engage with various issues alongside local leaders.
Kenya faces increasing scrutiny due to its government’s crackdown on dissent, including the arrest of critics and detentions post-June 2024 protests against new tax legislation. The political landscape has been further marred by allegations of state-linked abductions tied to social media activity deemed unfavorable to the President, with peaceful protests also met with arrests. Recently, Kenya was elected to the UN Human Rights Council, indicating its involvement on the international human rights stage.
King Willem-Alexander’s visit underscores the Netherlands’ commitment to addressing human rights issues with Kenya, particularly amidst ongoing abuse allegations. The outcry from Kenyans demonstrates a demand for governance based on respect and accountability. Through active dialogue and engagement, the royal visit may pave the way for improvements in Kenya’s human rights landscape, despite existing challenges.
Original Source: www.graphic.com.gh
