King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands are expected to arrive in the country on Monday ahead of the start of their four-day State visit.
The two who will be in the country, at the invitation of President William Ruto, will be accompanied by three ministers, Caspar Veldkamp (Foreign Affairs), Reinette Klever (Foreign Trade and Development) and Ruben Brekelmans (Defence).
The Netherlands and Kenya have maintained close ties for more than 60 years.
Ruto was in the Netherlands in May 2023.
The two countries have a close economic relationship and are both regional hubs with a large hinterland.
The visit is set to focus on key areas such as trade, security, climate action, and youth empowerment, reinforcing the long-standing partnership between Kenya and the Netherlands.
A programme released by the Royal House of Netherlands shows that the couple will engage in high-level meetings with Ruto and other government officials to discuss collaboration in governance, peace and security, and economic development.
The signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) in sectors such as tourism, trade, agriculture, and logistics will further strengthen investment opportunities and business partnerships.
Here is the full programme.
Tuesday March 18
Morning
President Ruto and First Lady Rachel Ruto will welcome the King and Queen at State House with an official ceremony, which will be followed by a tête-a-tête.
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
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
As part of the Netherlands' contribution to President Ruto’s campaign to grow 15 billion trees by 2032 to increase the country's forest cover and help combat climate change, the King and Queen will plant a tree in Nairobi.
The initiative also underlines the country’s (Netherlands) efforts on nature conservation and its cooperation with Kenya on the climate agenda.
They will also have an opportunity to talk with people from the local community, who are deeply committed to protecting the forest.
Kenya currently leads the way in Africa in climate adaptation and mitigation.
It hosted the first Africa Climate Summit in 2023.
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 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 also take part in a round table 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, Nairobi.
Wednesday March 19
Morning
The King and Queen will visit the inland container depot (ICD), which is a major storage facility for dry export products.
The Netherlands is the region’s biggest export market for products such as flowers and avocados.
This ICD and the Netherlands are jointly working to make logistical flows for perishables more sustainable, for example by transporting refrigerated goods by rail and ship.
The transition from air to maritime freight is already becoming evident at this ICD.
Horticultural sector
The Royal couple will visit a Dutch horticultural business that is working on sustainable and responsible production.
It is also investing in a healthier and more sustainable local ecosystem, and provides childcare and education for its employees’ children.
Afternoon
In the afternoon, the King and Queen will take part in a thematic session on climate change, which will focus on water, climate action and security in Kenya and the wider East African region.
Civil society and defence organisations, knowledge institutions and government agencies will present their projects and innovations.
Climate change is affecting the availability, distribution and quality of water resources in the region.
This presents challenges in terms of human safety, security and wellbeing, economic stability and geopolitical relations.
Evening
As a token of appreciation for Kenya’s hospitality, the King and Queen will host a cultural programme.
Thursday, March 20
Morning
They are scheduled to visit the Supreme Court where they will hold talks with Chief Justice Martha Koome and other leading figures in the justice sector, particularly women.
The visit will focus on the importance of an independent judiciary in increasing inclusive access to justice, and Dutch-Kenyan initiatives to that end.
Thereafter they will tour the Judiciary Museum, which showcases the history and development of Kenya’s judicial system.
Afternoon
They will visit the International Peace Support Training Centre.
The internationally renowned International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC) trains military personnel from several African countries to support various UN and African Union missions in Africa.
The Netherlands supports the centre by providing training on intelligence in the context of UN peace operations.
The visit to the IPSTC will focus on the future of defence cooperation between the Netherlands and Kenya.
The King and Queen will also hear about initiatives for combating violent extremism, and about the positive impact mothers and young people can achieve in combating radicalisation.
Reception for the Dutch community
The final day of the state visit will close with a reception for the Dutch community.
At the ambassador's official residence, the King and Queen will speak with Dutch nationals who live and work in Kenya.
