French President Emmanuel Macron opened the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi alongside Kenyan President William Ruto, presenting a renewed partnership between France and Kenya as Paris seeks to rebuild influence in Africa following its military withdrawal from several West African states.
The summit, held for the first time in an Anglophone African country, comes as both governments deepen defence, economic and diplomatic cooperation while facing growing criticism over the balance of the relationship.
Kenya and France signed 11 agreements covering sectors including transport, sustainable agriculture and a planned nuclear energy project.
The visit also follows the signing of a defence cooperation agreement in April 2026 that expanded military collaboration between the two countries.
The defence agreement includes cooperation in maritime security, intelligence, peacekeeping and disaster response, following joint military exercises involving French troops in Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa.
France has deployed hundreds of military personnel to Kenya to provide training for the Kenya Defence Forces.
The agreement grants French forces diplomatic-style protections and allows certain legal disputes involving French personnel to be handled through diplomatic channels.
Critics in Kenya have warned that the deal risks undermining national sovereignty and could draw the country into foreign strategic interests in the Western Indian Ocean.
Concerns have also intensified amid reports that France is seeking a permanent troop presence in Kenya, although Kenyan officials have denied that any permanent deployment has been agreed.
Kenyan opposition leader Kalonzo Musyoka criticised the summit’s location, arguing that Kenya faces political unrest and allegations of democratic backsliding ahead of the 2027 elections.
France remains one of Kenya’s largest foreign investors, with approximately 140 French companies operating in the country and investments totalling 1.8 billion euros over the past decade.
Both leaders described the summit as a turning point in relations between France and Africa.
Macron said France sought a partnership based on equality rather than influence, while Ruto stated that Kenya was “neither looking East nor West” but “looking forward”.
Analysts say Kenya offers France political stability and strategic access to East Africa, while Nairobi expects investment, infrastructure development and expanded security cooperation.
However, critics continue to question whether the partnership delivers equal benefits for both countries or reinforces long-standing power imbalances tied to France’s post-colonial role in Africa.