Macron praises Ruto’s global leadership as Kenya, France strengthen ties

President William Ruto with his French Counterpart Emmanuel Macron at State House Nairobi on May 10, 2026./PCS

French President Emmanuel Macron has praised President William Ruto for his leadership on African and global issues as the Africa Forward Summit 2026 officially kicked off in Nairobi.

Speaking after arriving in Kenya for the high-level summit, Macron said France highly values Ruto’s commitment to driving continental and international conversations, revealing that Kenya’s growing diplomatic influence played a key role in Nairobi being selected to host the summit.

“Thank you very much for your words, Mr President, and for your warm welcome,” Macron said.

“I’m pleased to come back to Nairobi seven years after my first official visit to your country. We have always appreciated your commitment to African and global issues. This is why we decided to have this Africa Forward Summit organised here in Nairobi.”

Macron reflected on the strengthening ties between Kenya and France since his historic first visit to Kenya seven years ago — the first-ever official visit by a French president to the country.

“The past seven years have been quite a journey. We did a lot together and increased our relationship from a bilateral point of view, but we also increased our intimacy,” he said.

The summit has brought together Heads of State, business leaders, diplomats and policymakers to discuss investment opportunities, climate action, technology and economic partnerships between Africa and France.

On his part, Ruto said Kenya and France have maintained close diplomatic ties since 1963, when France became one of the first countries to recognise Kenya’s independence.

The President noted that cooperation between the two nations had expanded significantly in recent years across renewable energy, urban mobility, education, innovation and digital transformation.

As part of the summit engagements, Kenya and France signed 11 agreements aimed at deepening economic and strategic cooperation.

Among the major agreements signed was the rehabilitation and modernisation of Nairobi’s commuter rail system under an €83 million financing arrangement expected to improve transport connectivity across Nairobi and neighbouring towns.

The two countries also entered into agreements covering logistics and port infrastructure development, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, the blue economy and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The Africa Forward Summit is expected to focus heavily on youth employment, artificial intelligence, green industrialisation and investment opportunities across the continent as leaders push for stronger Africa-Europe partnerships.