Beth Njeri

Communications Specialist| Sustainability| Good governance| Travel

[Beth Njeri @njeri_bm]

STATEMENT: Though the Dutch Royal Visit to Kenya went ahead despite calls for reconsideration, our call to prioritise human rights was heard. Grateful to all who signed the petition, shared, and stood with us. This is just the beginning—let's keep pushing for accountability!

Link to petition: https://t.co/vGZTvIOxWI

@JoeyTouwslager @kenyaNLdiaspora #NoRoyalSilence #StateVisitNLKe #EndPoliceBrutalityKE

[Kivutha Kibwana @ProfKibwana]

I wish, as 2025 draws to a close, to honour ⁦⁦@OkiyaOmtatah⁩ for his prolific and indefatigable PUBLIC INTEREST LITIGATION initiatives on behalf of Kenyans. This is valued service to his country. His contribution deserves a doctoral thesis. https://t.co/f439BuJ5ZO

[kenya netherlands diaspora @kenyaNLdiaspora]

"This visit just really comes at the wrong time. At a time when Kenyans have had more than enough of their government." - Kyalo

Like other Kenyan youths, Kyalo does not understand why the Netherlands - which claims to care about human rights - chose to allow the state visit to go ahead. ‘The royal visit validates everything our president stands for, which includes kidnappings, killings and lies,’ he said.

Activist @okayojoshua , who himself was briefly kidnapped after participating in the protests, was also asked for those talks. Although he saw the invitation as ‘perhaps the biggest opportunity’ of his life, he still declined. ‘Your state visit is more about avocado prices in the Netherlands than the countless human rights violations Kenya is suffering under the leadership of your guest of honour.' - @RTLnieuws

[Joey touwslager @JoeyTouwslager]

STATEMENT:
The Dutch King's statement earlier today is not enough. While he mentioned human rights, there was no real acknowledgment of the lives lost or the justice denied. Those responsible still walk free.

Thats why we also urge the Dutch government (@minPres @ministerbz @ministerBHO @dutchmfa) to also take a stronger stand. Now is the time to speak out more loudly, take meaningful action, and publicly condemn police brutality.

📢 Co-sign by sharing this post and demanding accountability!

#StandUpForJustice #HumanRightsFirst
#EndAbductionsKE
#EndPoliceBrutalityKE
#StateVisitNLKE
#NoRoyalSilence
#CancelStateVisit

@njeri_bm @kenyaNLdiaspora

[Beth Njeri @njeri_bm]

The Dutch King's statement earlier today is not enough. While he mentioned human rights, there was no real acknowledgment of the lives lost or the justice denied. Those responsible still walk free.

That's why we also urge the *Dutch government (@minPres @ministerbz @ministerBHO @dutchmfa) *to take a stronger stand. Now is the time to speak out more loudly, take meaningful action, and publicly condemn police brutality.

📢 Co-sign by sharing this post and demanding accountability!

@JoeyTouwslager @kenyaNLdiaspora #NoRoyalSilence #StandUpForJustice #HumanRightsFirst #EndAbductionsKE #EndPoliceBrutalityKE

[Shakira Wanjira Naliaka Wafula @fit_ermined]

When I received the invitation to a closed meeting with the Dutch royals, I wrestled with whether to attend. On one hand, their presence here feels like an endorsement of a regime that has repeatedly disregarded the rule of law, but on the other, they expressed a desire to engage with young people about our concerns. After much thought, I chose to attend, understanding that I might be the only one willing to directly express that we, as Kenyan youth, do not appreciate their visit in its current form.

I questioned why they chose to ignore the petition signed by over 22,000 Kenyans—a petition presented and discussed in the Dutch parliament—and insisted that the conversation with them must reflect the urgent need for their involvement in demanding justice and human rights in Kenya.

Kenya deserves real constitutional reforms, not just token gestures. We deserve a government that respects democratic processes and upholds justice. I asked that any agreements resulting from this visit center around these principles.

So, will this be just another PR stunt, or will we see tangible results from these conversations? Only time will tell. Let’s wait and see.

[Beth Njeri @njeri_bm]

@evelyngroenink @kenyaNLdiaspora @SKutment @JoeyTouwslager @DutchMFA @koninklijkhuis @MapinduziKE @WanjeriNderu @Wanjiru2027 @wanjirunjira @citizentvkenya Thank you Evelyn and the team at @zammagazine for bringing this conversation to light. We enjoyed partnering with you!

[evelyn groenink @evelyngroenink]

@kenyaNLdiaspora @SKutment @JoeyTouwslager @njeri_bm @DutchMFA @koninklijkhuis @MapinduziKE @WanjeriNderu @Wanjiru2027 @wanjirunjira @citizentvkenya https://t.co/5j6LHmCGlv

[Beth Njeri @njeri_bm]

🚨 Kenya is in crisis. Yet, the Dutch royal visit went ahead calls to reconsider the visit. Many have asked: Why oppose it? Wouldn’t it benefit Kenya?

But diplomacy should never come at the cost of human rights. Protesters killed. Activists abducted. Economic hardship deepens. Ignoring this crisis legitimizes repression instead of fostering true partnership.

This morning, @kenyaNLdiaspora & I broke it down in @zammagazine we opposed the visit & why public acknowledgment of Kenya’s human rights crisis is more urgent than ever.

📖 Read it here: https://t.co/4ZIydCloCQ

Article edited by: @realoyungapala

Thank you @ZAMMagazine for amplifying this critical conversation.

#NoRoyalSilence #StateVisitNLKe #EndPoliceBrutalityKE

[kenya netherlands diaspora @kenyaNLdiaspora]

For those who still do not get it, here’s a rundown😊

Key victories victories in this campaign:

1. Over 22,400 signatures gathered in a petition, demonstrating the broad public concern.

2. Meeting with the Dutch Human Rights Ambassador helped bring these concerns to the forefront of diplomatic discussions that will be had during the visit.

3. ⁠Media attention in both Kenya and the Netherlands, with several outlets picking up on the cause and amplifying the message.

4. Increased awareness in both Kenya and the Netherlands, mobilizing support from diverse communities and organizations.

5. Wider political support from members of the Dutch Parliament who have expressed concern about the visit and are advocating for the issues raised.

[kenya netherlands diaspora @kenyaNLdiaspora]

As the Dutch Royals land in Nairobi next week, police killings & attacks on civil society are still rampant in Kenya, meaning that our advocacy is far from over.
State violence CANNOT be a footnote to diplomacy and a royal visit should not be used to whitewash repression or normalize relations with a government that continues to violate fundamental rights. #NoRoyalSilence #StateVisitNLKe #EndPoliceBrutalityKE

[The Kenyan Vigilante @KenyanSays]

It's just a minute, take your time and listen to this man go down with El Chapo and Baba Fua!

[Joey touwslager @JoeyTouwslager]

My opinion piece about the upcoming #StateVisit of the Netherlands to Kenya in @ADnl today:

His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen,
(@koninklijkhuis )
With great concern, we look towards the upcoming state visit to Kenya. For me thats my second home. The Netherlands has long stood for justice, freedom, and human rights. These are not just nice words on paper; they are values that we actively advocate and defend. In the past, we have spoken out openly about human rights violations and war crimes. We have shown that we dare to stand up for the fundamental rights of people worldwide.

That is exactly why it saddens us that the Netherlands now appears to turn a blind eye while the rights of citizens are being violated in Kenya. That diplomatic courtesy is chosen over the values that define us as a country, while people are paying with their lives for the right to demonstrate. That a state visit is planned while the call for justice from Kenya is louder than ever.

If the Netherlands has spoken out in the past, it can and must do so now. Our core values are non-negotiable, not dependent on strategic interests or political occasions. If we truly believe in human rights, we cannot remain silent when it becomes uncomfortable.

This is not about comparing one world crisis to another, but about a principle: the Netherlands must always speak out against injustice, big or small, whether it is closeby or far.

Cancelling or postponing your state visit would send a powerful signal to the Kenyan people: that their human rights are valued and that the international community is watching. It would also urge the Kenyan government to reconsider its policies and strive for justice and reform.

Therefore, we urgently ask you to reconsider your visit and only go when the situation in Kenya has truly improved. This means not only ending excessive police violence but also delivering justice for the many victims of recent months. Without these fundamental steps, your visit would send the wrong signal.

Should you decide to go anyway, I strongly urge you to actively address these values with the Kenyan government under President @WilliamsRuto 's leadership. Express your concerns about the ongoing human rights violations and extreme police violence.

You recently said: “we can have a mature conversation with the Kenyan government on this.” The authoritarian regime of President William Ruto is anything but ‘mature’ and shows no sign of possessing any humanity. So please, do not make reality appear better than it is.

In addition, I ask you to urge @ministerBZ Caspar Veldkamp, @ministerBHO Reinette Klever, and Human Rights Ambassador @wjpgeerts to speak out openly about the situation in Kenya.

The Netherlands cannot remain silent while peaceful demonstrations are suppressed with tear gas and live bullets, and citizens are unlawfully abducted.

Do not only speak with people selected by the Kenyan president. Speak to victims and those involved. Listen to the voices of people who have lost their family members, who have been tortured, who fear for their lives. Only then will you have an honest picture of the reality in Kenya.

But above all, I ask you again: do not go. Cancel or postpone your visit. Many Kenyans have made it clear: "You are not welcome. Not now."

#CancelStateVisit #HumanRightsFirst #EndAbductionsKE #HumanRightsKenya #DutchRoyals #CancelTheVisit #HumanRightsViolations #RutoMustGo

[kenya netherlands diaspora @kenyaNLdiaspora]

Many question marks in the Dutch House of Representatives regarding the state visit to Kenya!

The planned state visit to Kenya leads to discomfort in the House of Representatives. The opposition has many questions for Prime Minister Schoof, after Amnesty International reported that the human rights situation has further deteriorated.

@ADnl @JanHoedeman

[Joey touwslager @JoeyTouwslager]

The planned state visit to Kenya is causing discomfort in the Dutch House of Representatives (Tweede Kamer).

The opposition has many questions for Prime Minister Schoof after Amnesty International informed this site that the human rights situation has deteriorated. Coalition parties VVD and PVV remain conspicuously silent.

Marieke Wijen-Nas, MP for the governing party BBB, is worried about the potential fallout from the visit. “Trade relations are important, but the Dutch government must be able to demonstrate that the state visit yields results—both economically and diplomatically. Is there any prospect of improvements in the human rights situation? Is there a concrete plan to give Dutch entrepreneurs a stronger position in Kenya? If not, the timing of this visit is incomprehensible.”

Laurens Dassen of Volt also worries about a possible counterproductive effect of the state visit. “The king should not allow himself to be used as a pawn by the Kenyan government.”

Last year, Foreign Affairs Minister Caspar Veldkamp and Prime Minister Dick Schoof decided not to send the king to Kenya for a state visit in October. A few months earlier, the government in Nairobi had suppressed demonstrations, resulting in the deaths of 44 young people.

Earlier this year, the Dutch Royal Information Service (RVD) officially announced that the king would go on a state visit in March after all. That decision sparked a large online protest campaign. Dutch activists who wanted to prevent the royal couple from going on a state visit gathered more than 22,000 signatures, which they recently presented to the House of Representatives and the Dutch government.

In response to questions from this site on the eve of the state visit, Amnesty International Kenya stated that the human rights situation is “worse than before.” The death toll linked to protests now stands at 63, and there have been 89 disappearances, according to the Kenyan National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR). Some of the missing have been found in morgues. “Shocking numbers,” says BBB MP Marieke Wijen-Nas.

Opposition parties are particularly concerned. “We must always take concerns about human rights violations extremely seriously,” says Laura Bromet, MP for GroenLinks-PvdA. She, along with D66, has submitted questions to Prime Minister Schoof.

The latter party, through MP Joost Sneller, says it expects the king to address the human rights situation while in Kenya. “That could happen during a scheduled conversation with young people on the first day.” Marieke Wijen-Nas agrees: “Otherwise, the Netherlands will lose credibility.” And CDA MP Inge van Dijk argues that if the visit proceeds ‘for geopolitical reasons,’ “the king should at least say something about human rights.” Denk MP Stephan van Baarle finds it ‘inappropriate’ for the visit to go ahead at all.

@JanHoedeman @ADnl
@amenya_nelson @njeri_bm

#HumanRightsFirst

[Mudge Rulf @MudgeRulf]

🚨 🇰🇪🇳🇱 UPDATE FROM KENYAS IN THE NETHERLANDS REGARDING HUMAN RIGHTS PETITION 🚨

Hi Mudge. An update from this end from the Kenyan community!

📢 Today, we Kenyans in the Netherlands submitted a petition with over 22,000 signatures to the Dutch House of Representatives, urging reconsideration of the Dutch Royals’ state visit to Kenya. This initiative is a further extension of efforts that have been ongoing since January, including discussions at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the Dutch Human Rights Ambassador. These continued conversations are focused on addressing critical human rights concerns and pushing for impactful action.
We highlighted:
🔹 Extrajudicial killings since June 2024, showing blatant disregard for human life.
🔹 Enforced disappearances, with some victims still missing, raising concerns about state-led abductions.
🔹 Rising living costs & rampant corruption, while officials flaunt wealth as Kenyans struggle.
Key takeaways from the meeting:
✅ They committed to raising awareness of this issue within their respective political parties.
✅ They will discuss the visit with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
#HumanRightsMatter #JusticeForKenyans #Accountability #StopTheViolence

@KTNNewsKE @Tuko_co_ke @citizentvkenya @MigunaMiguna @KBCChannel1 @Kenyans

[kenya netherlands diaspora @kenyaNLdiaspora]

Good afternoon, the petition is still open to sign! Despite our meeting on 6/2/2025 with the Dutch Human Rights Ambassador, we remain committed to lobbying for the reconsideration of the Dutch royal state visit to Kenya.

https://t.co/GxGAxr4CwS]

[Beth Njeri @njeri_bm]

@Kendi_Nkonge @FMoHealth @aphrc Great work 🥳🥳

[Oyunga Pala @realoyungapala]

Outstanding lecture by ⁦⁦@johnallannamu⁩ at the annual Nelson Mandela lecture in Amsterdam ⁦@zammagazine⁩