The Dutch government is expected to pull the plug on Rotterdam’s Global Centre on Adoption (GCA), an international climate change research facility, because of concerns about its close ties to Kenya’s autocratic president William Ruto.

Public broadcaster NOS reported that the Netherlands would cut its subsidy for the centre after next year, quoting sources close to the cabinet.

The UK government earlier announced it was withdrawing its funding and the Gates Foundation, another major donor, is reportedly considering its options.

GCA moved into a purpose-built floating office in Rotterdam’s Katendrecht district eight years ago to huge fanfare, after the city saw off competition from other Dutch bidders. Its board of directors includes former prime minister Jan Peter Balkenende, while city mayor Carola Schouten is on the supervisory board.

The organisation was supposed to help countries around the world develop technologies to mitigate climate change, but in practice it has focused mainly on Africa.

Controversial ties

CEO Patrick Verkooijen’s relationship with Ruto has been a source of concern, notably on a state visit to Kenya by king Willem-Alexander and queen Maxima earlier this year.

Verkooijen gave a speech in which he lavished Ruto with praise for his “real leadership”, to the visible surprise of the royal couple. He was recently appointed by Ruto as chancellor of the University of Nairobi.

Verkooijen has said the centre would have to relocate to the Kenyan capital if the Dutch government ended its subsidy.

“Without renewed support from the host nation, we will have no option but to close our office in Rotterdam and move all our activities and operations to our new office in Nairobi,” a spokesman told NOS in an email.

NOS reported that the centre had awarded a research contract worth €1.2 million to the University of Nairobi shortly before Verkooijen’s appointment was announced, making the university one of the biggest recipients of funding from the GCA. Verkooijen dismissed the figures as “utter nonsense” when questioned by the broadcaster.

The Dutch infrastructure and home affairs ministries said it was discontinuing funding for several GCA projects as part of a wider cost-cutting drive.

A spokesman for the government said it would “obviously be a shame if an organisation that we helped established leaves the Netherlands,” but as a private company GCA was free to determine its own future.