Statement by King Willem-Alexander with President William Ruto at the start of the state visit to Kenya, Nairobi
Mr President,
Ladies and gentlemen,
As we begin our three-day state visit to Kenya, I would like to thank you, Mr President, for your kind invitation.
Our visit reflects the strong and equal relationship that has developed between our countries, across a broad range of areas. We work together successfully in many different fields.
As trading partners, as partners for security and stability, as investors in sustainable development, as problem solvers in the food and water sectors, and not least as like-minded countries in the UN.
This is illustrated by the operational sphere of our embassy in Nairobi, our largest mission in Africa, whose activities extend across the entire region.
Our diplomatic ties go back more than 60 years, and Kenya’s extraordinary development over those decades has been highly impressive.
Kenya is a self-assured nation that is proud of its economic performance, its democracy and institutions, and its constructive and impactful international role.
We attach great value to our cooperation with Kenya. This visit shows just how closely our interests are aligned, and how strong our ties have become. And not just our governments, but also our businesses, our NGOs and the many private parties in Kenya and the Netherlands who have teamed up on joint initiatives.
We believe in the future of Kenya. A future that will be determined by the Kenyan people. With a population whose average age is 20, your country is fortunate that it can rely on the ideas and energies of millions of young citizens.
The people of Kenya, like those of the Netherlands, want their rights as free citizens to be respected, and their voices to be heard. I’m pleased that our countries’ strong and mature relationship allows us to devote attention during this visit to issues like human rights, good governance and accountability.
We are grateful to have the opportunity to discuss the concerns that exist in these areas. Later this morning, at the ambassador’s residence, we will be meeting young Kenyans to hear their views on recent developments. What opportunities do they see to build a bright future for the country they love? A future in which everyone can participate on an equal footing.
Legal certainty has a fundamental role to play in this respect, and is also essential for Kenya’s economic development.
Our visit reflects the full breadth of our partnership and the dialogue between us. We are very much looking forward to the coming days.
This will be a wonderful opportunity to meet Kenyans from many different backgrounds, and to foster even closer ties between our two countries.
Mr President, thank you for your hospitality.