By PCS
Kenya and France have signed 11 bilateral agreements aimed at strengthening cooperation across key sectors including transport, energy, digital technology, agriculture, climate action, education, and healthcare.
The agreements were signed yesterday at State House Nairobi following bilateral talks between President William Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron, who is in Kenya ahead of the Africa Forward Summit set to begin tomorrow.
Among the flagship agreements is the rehabilitation and modernization of the Nairobi Commuter Rail project valued at KSh 12.5 billion. President Ruto said the project will play a central role in Kenya’s urban transport transformation by expanding and upgrading commuter rail corridors connecting Nairobi to satellite towns such as Syokimau, Embakasi, Ruiru, and Kikuyu.
The President added that ongoing extensions, including the Riruta-Ngong line, will further enhance connectivity across the Nairobi metropolitan region.
Kenya and France also signed an agreement establishing a joint venture to develop and finance logistics and port infrastructure worth approximately KSh 104 billion, a move expected to boost trade and regional integration.
In agriculture, the two countries agreed to facilitate the purchase and promotion of Kenya’s premium purple tea varieties in French retail markets, creating opportunities for value addition and improved earnings for farmers.
On digital transformation, President Ruto said Kenya is keen on leveraging French expertise in areas such as digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, data systems, digital public services, and artificial intelligence. He noted that projects such as Konza Technopolis and the Digital Superhighway are positioning Kenya as a leading technology hub in East and Central Africa.
The two leaders also discussed cooperation in the development of nuclear energy, with Kenya seeking to benefit from France’s advanced expertise to help achieve the country’s target of generating 10,000 megawatts of electricity.
Additional agreements covered the blue economy and fisheries, financing for the raising of Masinga Dam, modernization of climate and weather services, production of Sustainable Aviation Fuel in Kenya, agri-food systems transformation, and the expansion of the Kipeto Wind Energy Development Project by an additional 100 megawatts at a cost of KSh 32.5 billion.
President Ruto further emphasized the importance of improving air connectivity between Kenya and France to support growing trade, tourism, and business relations. He also highlighted enhanced cooperation in digital health, laboratory systems, epidemic preparedness, and real-time disease surveillance.
In education, the leaders welcomed deeper collaboration in STEM and Technical and Vocational Education and Training. Ruto announced that the KSh 5.6 billion University of Nairobi Engineering and Science Complex project is now entering the implementation phase.
On global matters, the two presidents reaffirmed their commitment to climate action, multilateralism, and reforming the international financial system to ensure fair financing access for developing countries.
President Ruto said hosting the Africa Forward Summit in Kenya, the first non-Francophone African country to do so in over 50 years, demonstrates growing ties between Kenya and France and signals a shift toward a more action-oriented partnership.
“We are not looking East or West. We are looking forward,” Ruto said.
President Macron said France is committed to expanding investment and partnerships across Africa and pledged support for reforms to the African financial infrastructure through collaboration with the African Development Bank.
He also clarified that hosting the summit in Kenya does not sideline West African nations, noting that leaders from the region will participate in the summit.
Similar Posts by Mt Kenya Times:
- Mt Kenya Times ePAPER May 14, 2026
- Mau Mau descendants push for recognition and compensation at Thika conference
- NEWS IN BRIEF 13 MAY 2026
- Exodus in Murang’a: 18 former MCAs join Safina in major political realignment
- Mt Kenya Times ePAPER May 13, 2026