President William Ruto and visiting King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Máxima of Netherlands are set to escalate relations between the two countries in strategic areas.
The Dutch Royal Couple who are on a four day State Visit jetted into the country Monday evening and were officially received by President Ruto today at State House, Nairobi.
This marks their first visit to Kenya, following an invitation from President William Ruto.
They are accompanied by Minister of Foreign Affairs Caspar Veldkamp, Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Reinette Klever, and Minister of Defence Ruben Brekelmans, who will also participate in various program events.
Kenya’s Head of State and their Majesties, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima held bilateral talks during their first engagement and addressed the media during their State Visit to Kenya.
The discussions culminated in the two countries signing three Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) and letters of intent on Trade, Agriculture, Tourism and water management.
Ruto described Netherlands as one of Kenya’s most significant trading partners in Europe, a steadfast development ally, and a key collaborator in our economic transformation.
Ruto underscored the importance of the ties between the two countries that have lasted for 60 years assuring the partnership will lead to the expansion of economic opportunities for both nations.
On his part King Alexander said his visit includes engaging the youth on governance, implementation of projects and their input in nation building.
“We value this partnership and we are committed to strengthening our ties, expanding economic opportunities, and fostering sustainable collaborations that drive progress in both nations,” President Ruto said through his X page.
Here is the itinerary
Tuesday 18 March
Morning
Welcome Ceremony
President Ruto and the First Lady will welcome the King and Queen at State House with an official ceremony, which will be followed by a tête-a-tête.
Delegation meeting
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima and the ministers accompanying them will meet with the Kenyan president and his ministers. After the meeting, the President and the King will give a short statement to the media.
Signing of Memoranda of Understanding
Following the delegation meeting, King Willem-Alexander will attend the signing of Memoranda of Understanding on tourism, trade, security, agriculture and fisheries.
Wreath-laying ceremony
In honour of those who contributed to Kenya’s freedom and independence, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior.
Dialogue with young people
With 75% of Kenya’s population aged under 35, young people play a crucial role in determining the country’s future. The royal couple will speak with young Kenyans from a range of backgrounds, who will share their personal experiences and their ideas about Kenya’s future. This dialogue will also touch on the human rights situation in Kenya, good governance and democracy.
Afternoon
Tree-planting ceremony
Kenya leads the way in Africa in climate adaptation and mitigation. It hosted the first Africa Climate Summit in 2023. A campaign is currently underway to plant 15 billion trees by 2032. This will increase the country’s forested area and help combat climate change.
As a contribution to this campaign, and to underline the Netherlands’ efforts on nature conservation and its cooperation with Kenya on the climate agenda, the King and Queen will plant a tree in a forest in Nairobi. They will also talk with people from the local community, who are deeply committed to protecting the forest.
Business Forum
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima will attend the Business Forum, which will focus on the strong economic ties linking the Netherlands and Kenya and where delegates from the parallel missions can meet each other and their Kenyan partners. More than 50 businesses, knowledge institutions and NGOs will be joining the economic missions on sustainable agriculture and water.
During the Business Forum, the King and Queen will discuss key partnerships between the Netherlands and Kenya in the areas of innovation and digitalisation in agriculture, logistics, healthcare, energy and water. They will take part in a roundtable talk with CEOs on the opportunities and challenges associated with doing business in Kenya. The forum will also address the social impact of Dutch initiatives aimed at education and employment for young people in Kenya.
State banquet
In honour of the state visit by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, President Ruto will host a state banquet at State House.
Additional Reporting by Margaret Kalekye
