The Netherlands and Kenya have much in common: we are both trading nations and regional hubs, and we both have ports that serve as conduits to large hinterlands. The state visit will focus on our mutual interests and on the factors that unite us. There will be meetings with people from across Kenyan society, from farmers to young entrepreneurs and from civil society organisations to the business sector. In the context of the strong and mature relationship between our countries, we seek out opportunities and balanced partnerships while at the same time remaining open to critical dialogue and allowing scope for discussion on sensitive topics.

The Netherlands is aware of developments within Kenya and, by extension, of human rights violations, about which we have spoken out right from the start. We will keep monitoring the situation and we take the protests very seriously. Both publicly and in our contacts with the Kenyan authorities, we will continue to address these issues, since it is only through dialogue that we can work together to solve problems and achieve mutual understanding.