Kenya, France Sign 11 Deals as Ruto Hosts Macron for Africa Forward Summit

Kenya and France have signed 11 agreements covering transport, energy, trade, ports and digital transformation as the two countries moved to deepen economic and diplomatic ties during the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi.

President William Ruto said the agreements were signed following bilateral talks with French President Emmanuel Macron at State House Nairobi, describing the summit as a major milestone in Kenya-France relations.

“Kenya and France have maintained strong diplomatic relations since 1963. We continue to deepen this partnership in areas of shared interest for the benefit of the people of both nations,” Ruto said.

The summit is particularly significant because it is being hosted for the first time in a non-Francophone African country, a move Ruto said demonstrates growing trust and expanding cooperation between Nairobi and Paris.

“The decision to host the Africa Forward Summit in Kenya, for the first time in a non-Francophone country, is a strong affirmation of the growing ties between our two countries,” he said.

“The summit marks a significant step towards a more balanced, action-oriented and results-driven partnership.”

Among the major agreements signed is a deal linked to the modernisation of the Nairobi Central Station to Embakasi Rail Line 5 project, which is expected to strengthen urban transport connectivity and support Nairobi’s growing commuter infrastructure needs.

The two countries also signed agreements on the promotion of Kenya’s premium purple tea exports, signaling efforts to expand market access for Kenyan agricultural products in Europe and global markets.

In the energy sector, Kenya and France agreed to cooperate on the peaceful use of nuclear energy as Kenya explores diversification of its long-term energy mix to support industrialisation and rising electricity demand.

The partnership will also include collaboration on the development of the Masinga Dam project, one of the country’s strategic infrastructure investments aimed at improving water and energy resilience.

Other agreements signed during the summit cover the modernisation of meteorological services, production of sustainable aviation fuel, digital transformation initiatives, expansion of container terminal capacity at Kenyan ports, and cooperation in the blue economy and fisheries sector.

The deals come as Kenya positions itself as a regional economic and diplomatic hub while seeking foreign investment and strategic partnerships to accelerate infrastructure development, industrialisation and trade.

France remains one of Kenya’s key European partners in sectors including energy, transport, agriculture and urban development, with both governments increasingly framing their relationship around investment, technology transfer and long-term economic cooperation.

Read: France Seeks ‘New Era’ of Partnership With Africa at Nairobi Summit

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