Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has addressed the opposition by a section of Kenyans to the upcoming state visit by His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Kenya.
This follows confirmation from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs that it had received over 300 emails from concerned citizens calling for the visit’s cancellation.
In response, PCS Mudavadi expressed support for the government and downplayed the impact of these protests, emphasizing that the Royal Family’s invitation did not come through social media.
The Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary (CS) was speaking on Saturday, January 18, when he handed over the Ministry of ICT to newly sworn-in CS William Kabogo.
Mudavadi defends government
PCS Mudavadi noted that the partnership between Kenya and the Netherlands is strong, with the European country ranking among the top investors in Kenya.
“We did not invite the King of the Netherlands or the Royal Family to visit through social media. There are government channels for such invitations. So, where is this rumor coming from that because a few people have played on social media that it has affected our relationship with Netherlands? It is wishful thinking, our partnership with the Netherlands is very solid, they are strong investors in this country, they will continue being strong investors in this country, and we have a very good relationship, “said the PCS.
“The rest is just a rumor mill. It may be pleasing to those who think it is gaining traction, but I can tell you it is not.”
Also Read: Dutch Govt Responds After Kenyans Flood Royal Email Over Ruto Invite
Kenyans oppose state visit by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands
The statement by Mudavadi comes after Dutch public broadcasting organization Nederlandse Omroep Stichting (NOS), reported that the country’s Foreign Affairs ministry confirmed receiving the myriad e-mails.
NOS, however, reported that the Ministry insisted that the visit was still on as it is set to present an opportunity to discuss the alleged violations by the President William Ruto government.
“Foreign Affairs confirms when asked, also on behalf of the RVD, that they have received at least three hundred e-mails about the royal visit to Kenya but do not yet have the full picture and are still investigating this,” NOS reported.
“In a written response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also on behalf of the Government Information Service, stated that it is aware of the human rights violations in Kenya, ‘against which the Netherlands speaks out both publicly and in contacts with Kenyan authorities’ and that it sees the visit as an opportunity to ‘discuss difficult topics such as human rights violations.”
Also Read: King and Queen to Make Historic State Visit After Ruto Invite
King Willem and Queen Maxima’s visit to Kenya comes after the Queen visited the country back in October 2023 in her role as the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Advocate for Inclusive Finance for Development (UNSGSA).
The state visit, scheduled for March 18 to March 20, 2025, was announced in a statement by the Netherlands Information Service.
In the statement, the Service noted that the visit, which is at the invitation of President Ruto, marks a significant milestone in the relations between the two nations.
The upcoming visit has however sparked sharp criticism on social media, with concerns over insecurity and governance dominating online discussions.
A section of the Kenyan public has expressed disapproval online, urging the Dutch government to cancel the visit due to the current situation in Kenya.
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