Several Bilateral Agreements Inked During France’s President Macron’s Visit to Kenya
On 10 May 2026, France and Kenya signed 11 bilateral agreements as France’s President Emmanuel Macron started the first day of his state visit to Kenya. The signing took place at the State House in Nairobi and was witnessed by both Kenya’s President William Ruto and France’s President Emmanuel Macron.
The key agreements are as follows:
Upgrade Nairobi Commuter Rail. France has agreed to finance the project to the tune of KSH 12.5 billion (€96M). It involves the rehabilitation and expansion of the commuter rail network and line 5 in particular, which links satellite towns of Syokimau, Embabasi, Ruiru and Kikuyu.
Expand Port Capabilities. CMA-CGM is committing an investment worth EUR 700 million in a JV to develop port infrastructure in both Mombasa and Lamu. The Ecole Nationale Supérieure Maritime (ENSM) will partner with Bandari Maritime Academy to for local capacity building.
Enhance Power Grid. AFD is providing a EUR 83 million concessional loan to modernize Kenya’s national grid control center which will be implemented by a consortium including GE Vernova and Larsen & Toubro. Kenya is looking at integrating nuclear energy into its energy mix to increase its generating capacity from the current 2.3 GW to 10 GW by 2035. France has agreed to assist with feasibility studies, safety frameworks and the training of local personnel to operate the first nuclear power plant in Kenya.
Defense Cooperation Agreement. Earlier in 2026, the Parliaments of both countries also ratified the Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA) signed last year, which focuses on #MaritimeSecurity in the Western Indian Ocean. Under the DCA, both countries will undertake joint Falcon Mara military exercises. France will also provide training to the Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) to combat terrorism and both sides share intelligence about maritime domain awareness (MDA) and regional threats. Kenya grants French forces access to specific facilities for refueling, repairs and transits as Kenya sits right mid-way between French bases in Djibouti and Madagascar.
The visit of Macron is part of a three-country African tour. Before coming to Kenya, Macron was in Egypt, and after Kenya, he will visit Ethiopia. With Ruto, he will co-host the Africa Forward Summit, which is a rebranding of the Africa-France Summit. It marks the first time that such a summit is held in an anglophone country in Africa and indicates that France is expanding beyond its traditional pré-carré in francophone Africa.