Kenya hosts Dutch royals as allegations of rights abuses mount in the East African nation

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya is hosting the Dutch king and queen as allegations of human rights abuses are mounting in the East African country, with Kenyans writing hundreds of emails and petitioning the royals to cancel their visit.

Kenya’s government has been accused of arresting and detaining critics, especially after the June anti-government protests, during which demonstrators stormed parliament and torched a section of the building because they were angry over new taxes passed by legislators.

Along with cracking down on demonstrators and curbing free speech, the country also saw state-linked abductions of young men for social media posts deemed offensive to the president. In December, during protests against widespread kidnappings and abductions, dozens of peaceful protesters were arrested.

More than 20,000 Kenyans signed the petition on Change.org asking Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima to reconsider their visit. Last month, the government in the Netherlands said that it had received more than 300 emails asking for the cancellation, but that the state visit would proceed as scheduled.

The Dutch royals arrived on Monday night for a three-day visit. Willem-Alexander was honored with a 21-gun salute and inspected an honor guard, the office of President William Ruto said on Tuesday morning.

There was little excitement from Kenyans on the streets during the first day of the royal visit. Macharia Munene, a professor of international relations at the United States International University-Africa, attributed it to the “low morale that people in the country find themselves in.”

“There generally is low trust for the government and what it claims to stand for in part because such critical public institutions as health and education are not working," Munene said. "The diplomatic clout that Kenya used to have has evaporated.”

Amnesty International on Saturday asked Kenya and the Netherlands to “place human rights at the heart of the visit, address human rights violations and commit to accountability for all victims following the recent brutal crackdown on human rights” in the East African country.

Kenya was among several African countries elected to the U.N Human Rights Council in October, and rights groups have been urging the government to prioritize civil liberties.

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands stands during the state visit of the Dutch Royals at State House in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, March. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Queen Máxima of the Netherlands during the state visit of the Dutch Royals at State House in Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands speaks during a joint press conference with Kenya's President William Ruto, after a meeting at State House in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, March. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Netherlands King Willem-Alexander, left and Queen Maxima, second left, during a joint press conference with Kenya's President William Ruto, right, after meeting at State House in Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday, March. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Queen Maxima of The Netherlands, left, and Kenya's first lady Rachel Ruto, right, during the state visit of the Dutch Royals at State House in Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday, March. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

Queen Maxima of The Netherlands during the state visit of the Dutch Royals at State House in Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday, March. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, center-left, and Kenya's President William Ruto, center, observe the honor guard at State House in Nairobi, Kenya Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands reviews an honor guard after arriving to meet with Kenya's President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands reviews the honor guard after arriving to meet with Kenya's President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, March. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands reviews the honor guard after arriving to meet with Kenya's President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands reviews the honor guard after arriving to meet with Kenya's President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands reviews the honor guard after arriving to meet with Kenya's President William Ruto at State House in Nairobi, Kenya, Tuesday, March 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Brian Inganga)

GUADALAJARA, Mexico (AP) — With Mexico a few minutes away from securing a spot in the knockout stage of the World Cup it's hosting with the U.S. and Canada, goalkeeper Raúl “Tala” Rangel extended his right arm and positioned his hand perfectly to keep the ball from crossing the line, denying South Korea an equalizer.

The 87th-minute save by the goalkeeper, who is from the Guadalajara region and plays for local club Chivas, sealed a 1-0 win and a first-place finish for Mexico in Group A. El Tri became the first team to advance from the group stage.

“It was very quick, it was pure reaction,” Rangel said. “I couldn’t really tell you what I saw, because I remember the moment of impact with my teammate and me having the ball. But I think I was really focused, I came through when team needed me, and I’m happy about that.”

The 26-year-old Rangel came up big twice in the decisive play.

He stopped Yang Hyun-jun’s attempt with his extended arm immediately after he saved a close-range header by Cho Gue-sung. The ball ricocheted up as Rangel collided with a teammate going to the ground, but he was able to block Yang's strike on the rebound.

Rangel got the starting role for the World Cup after an injury earlier this year to Luis Ángel Malagón, Mexico's expected starter in goal.

Coach Javier Aguirre said he felt confident about having Rangel in goal at the World Cup.

“He showed me a lot of determination ever since we called him up for the first time,” Aguirre said. “He played very well for his team this season.”

Rangel's Chivas plays at Estadio Akron, Guadalajara's World Cup host venue. Luis Romo, who scored Mexico's goal on Thursday, also plays for the club that traditionally only fields players from Mexico.

“Tala is at home, he is happy,” Aguirre said. “And I'm happy for him.”

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup

Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel (1) makes a save on the goal line during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel (1) makes a save on the goal line during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)

South Korea's Cho Gue-sung (9) heads the ball towards Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel (1) reaches to stop the ball during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

Mexico goalkeeper Raul Rangel (1) makes a save on the goal line during the World Cup Group A soccer match between Mexico and South Korea in Zapopan, near Guadalajara, Mexico, Thursday, June 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)