French President Emmanuel Macron at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi/PCSThe moderator whose microphone was briefly taken by French President President Emmanuel Macron during a youth forum at the University of Nairobi has spoken out.
Marie Lora-Mungai has described the incident as a
misunderstood but ultimately harmless moment that spiralled into a global
social media sensation.
Lora-Mungai, who was moderating a session at the ongoing Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, explained that the French President’s actions were taken out of context after a video clip of the exchange went viral online.
The incident occurred on Monday during a panel discussion
attended by President William Ruto and Macron, where the two leaders engaged
young Africans on technology, innovation, education reforms and the continent’s
digital future.
As noise levels rose inside the packed auditorium, Macron walked toward the stage, took the microphone from Lora-Mungai and appealed to the audience to quiet down so the discussions could continue.
The clip quickly spread across social media platforms, sparking mixed reactions, with some viewers criticising Macron’s approach while others defended his actions as an attempt to restore order.
But in a detailed social media statement post, Lora-Mungai dismissed claims that there was any confrontation between her and the French leader.
“President Macron and I had a little viral moment. You’ve probably seen it pop up in your feeds,” she said.
'Thanks to my early years at CNN, I know what makes "good TV". And yet, I’ve been amazed by how this tiny, inconsequential exchange in real life made its way around the world, and the various commentary it elicited from people who were not in the room.”
She explained that the summit venue itself contributed significantly to the noisy atmosphere witnessed during the session.
According to her, the main stage had been set up in the open hall of the University of Nairobi, where thousands of delegates, investors, political leaders and business executives were constantly moving around.
“The location was awkward. The main stage was set up in the open hall of the University of Nairobi, near a constant flow of 7,000 African, French and European business people moving in and out of the building and up and down the large central stairs,” she said.
“From the moment the doors opened, the place got crowded, busy, and loud.”
Lora-Mungai said excitement among participants intensified due to the presence of several African heads of state and leading business figures attending the summit.
“People were excited to see each other, galvanised by the presence of multiple heads of state in such close proximity, and fan-girling over top business figures like Aliko Dangote,” she stated.
She further revealed that Macron had personally pushed for creative industries to occupy a prime slot during the summit discussions, underlining France’s growing interest in Africa’s cultural and creative economy.
According to Lora-Mungai, she was initially surprised when Macron approached her during the session because he was scheduled to formally join the stage later in a carefully planned programme.
“When I saw him walk up to me, I was confused at first, because I was only supposed to call him on stage 15 minutes later in a highly choreographed sequence a dozen people had spent weeks calibrating,” she explained.
“I gave him the mic, and he asked the room to be quiet —
that part you saw.”
The moderator defended Macron’s conduct, saying his reaction was consistent with his personality and justified under the circumstances.
“Having done several events with President Macron, this was totally in character for him and also, completely justified — the space was, indeed, noisy,” she said.
“He succeeded in bringing the level down, and we continued, grateful.”
