There has been a lot of anger online among Kenyans about the upcoming visit of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima from the Netherlands. They are scheduled to visit Kenya from March 18 to 20 after being invited by President William Ruto. However, many people in Kenya are upset with the president due to ongoing human rights issues in the country.
On social media, Kenyans are using hashtags like #CancelTheVisit and #HumanRightsFirst to ask the royal couple to not come to Kenya. Many are also asking the same through emails sent to the Dutch government to express their concerns. These messages have been shared and liked by thousands of people.
The Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it received around 300 emails about the royal visit on the first day of the announcement, but it is still investigating the total number of emails it has. Activists believe the number is much higher, possibly in the thousands.
Protests and Violence
In August 2022, President Ruto was elected by promising to improve the economy. Many people supported him, especially those in informal jobs. Unfortunately, this hope turned into disappointment, leading to protests when the government wanted to raise taxes on basic needs like food and fuel.
These protests turned violent, with police using live ammunition against mainly young protesters. At least 60 Kenyans died during these events. Investigations have shown that the police tried to hide the facts about these deaths.
Even though street protests were stopped violently, online campaigns are still pushing for the president to resign. Human rights groups warn that speaking out can be dangerous. Since June last year, at least 82 people have been taken by armed groups, with some being found dead and many still missing.
The armed gang that had been abducting Kenyans was revealed by CS Public Service Justin Muturi to be NIS officers, led by Nordin Haji. The minister revealed that in a statement saying they abducted his son, only the president made his son return home safely after a phone call to NIS boss Nordin Haji.
Last month, there were more kidnappings. Authorities deny being involved, but some victims had publicly criticized the government.

Bad Timing for a Visit
Because of all this, many Kenyans believe the royal visit is not a good idea. Nelson Amenya, an economist and critic of President Ruto, shared his concerns on social media.
He says, “It seems like the royal family supports these actions.” Amenya highlights the troubling history, mentioning that Ruto was once charged with crimes related to election violence by the International Criminal Court (ICC), though the case was dropped in 2016 due to lack of evidence.
In their response, the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs said they are aware of human rights issues in Kenya, which they publicly condemn. They see the royal visit as a chance to discuss tough topics like human rights violations.
More than a Visit
Francis Gaitho, a football commentator, believes the royal couple is making a mistake by coming while serious questions remain. Gaitho has faced arrests for speaking against Ruto and has been in hiding this year.
He says, “We know the Netherlands and Kenya have a relationship, especially because of flowers and tourism. But the royals cannot ignore what is happening in Kenya. For them, life is easy, but for us, under Ruto, it is very hard.”
Kenyans in the Netherlands
Even Kenyans living in the Netherlands are asking the royal couple to cancel their visit. Jaya Khamala, who works in education there, has sent multiple emails to the Dutch government to voice her concerns.
She feels frustrated that the visit was suggested when there are serious issues in Kenya. “The president wants them to come to show off his foreign friends and improve his image. If the Dutch royal family cares about human rights, they should not participate in this,” she says.
Khamala is part of a WhatsApp group with around 200 other Kenyans in the Netherlands, and they are trying to make their voices heard.
The announcement of the royal visit on social media has led to many Kenyans sharing images of protest victims and saying they are not ready for visitors until the problems in Kenya are resolved.