Kenya-France Joint Press Briefing, State House, Nairobi

Added: 2026-05-14

[00:00:00]I think he was already on his way to get the railway going.

[00:00:05]He could not wait to get the railway to Embakasi. Thank you.

[00:00:09]With that, your excellencies will now progress to a joint press statement from the two heads of state to the members of the fourth estate.

[00:00:22]So, we'll now progress to hearing a joint press statement from the two heads of state. Welcome, your excellencies.

[00:00:36]Your excellency, President Emmanuel Macron, distinguished members of your delegation, ladies and gentlemen, today I had the distinct honor and pleasure of welcoming President Emmanuel Macron on his official visit to Kenya, taking place at a historic moment as Kenya co-hosts Africa France Summit in Nairobi under the theme Africa forward, Africa finance partnership for innovation and growth.

[00:01:11]Kenya is deeply honored to host this summit, the first to be held outside France or a Francophone African country in more than five decades.

[00:01:24]This reflects the evolving nature of the Africa finance partnership and Kenya's growing role as a convener of regional and global dialogue.

[00:01:35]The summit brings together leaders, business people, investors, and innovators to advance practical cooperation in areas such as infrastructure, innovation, green growth, and development financing.

[00:01:51]Kenya and France have maintained strong diplomatic relations since 1963, when France was among the first countries in the world to recognize Kenya's independence for which we are truly grateful.

[00:02:09]Over the years, this partnership has evolved into a broad and strategic engagement across multiple sectors.

[00:02:19]France is one of Kenya's leading economic partners with strong portfolio of investments supported through the French Development Agency, particularly in renewable energy urban mobility and climate-related projects.

[00:02:38]Our cooperation also extends to education skills development and innovation.

[00:02:44]Through partnerships between Kenya and France and French institutions, as well as the AFD-supported programs we are strengthening technical training higher education research capacity 3 million euro 12.5 billion Kenya shillings Nairobi commuter rail which will serve as a central pillar of our urban transport modernization program.

[00:03:10]The Nairobi commuter rail five is expanding and upgrading key commuter rail corridors linking Nairobi to satellite towns such as Syokimau, Embakasi, Ruiru and and Kikuyu.

[00:03:26]New extensions including the Ruaka-Embakasi line currently under construction will further improve connectivity across our metropolitan city.

[00:03:39]In addition, we signed an agreement establishing a joint venture to develop and finance logistics and port infrastructure an investment of 800 million US dollars.

[00:03:52]We also signed an agreement to facilitate the purchase of premium purple tea varieties and promote Kenya's specialty teas across French retail networks, creating opportunities for value addition and high income for our farmers.

[00:04:11]Mr. President, today tomorrow at the dinner we will be serving some Kenyan tea that looks like French wine.

[00:04:22]Another important agreement signed today supports Kenya's digital transformation and connectivity enhancing different acts in our space. Kenya is building a dynamic digital economy that is driving innovation, competitiveness, and regional integration through flagship initiatives such as our Konza Technopolis and our digital superhighway.

[00:04:49]We discussed opportunities to deepen collaboration in digital infrastructure, digital public services, cybersecurity, data systems, and artificial intelligence as Kenya continues to strengthen its position as a leading technology and innovation hub.

[00:05:06]Additional bilateral agreements signed today cover cooperation in the blue economy and fisheries.

[00:05:13]The peaceful use of nuclear energy and I had a conversation with the president on their use of nuclear energy to drive their transformation.

[00:05:25]And we are preparing and right on the way, Mr. President, to having our first renewable energy uh from nuclear, and we want to thank you very much that you are willing and able to support Kenya on this very important transformation program because we need to generate at least 10,000 megawatts in the next 7 years.

[00:05:54]We also enhanced our cooperation including modernization of Kenya's climate and weather services.

[00:06:03]As I told you, Mr. President, uh Kenya is a country that has 85% of our uh landmasses arid and semi-arid, and therefore weather predictions are very important.

[00:06:17]We are also a farming nation, and therefore the support to our weathermen is going to help us have greater accuracy and be able to inform our farmers in good time about weather patterns so that we can be able to do uh better in that space.

[00:06:35]Production of sus- sustainable aviation fuel in Kenya, collaboration in agricultural food system bridging, of course, on our economic partnership agreement that is signed between Kenya and the European Union.

[00:06:49]We welcome the growing partnership between Kenya and France in advancing research, innovation, and digital skills through initiatives supported by the French Development Agency and the Pamoja program.

[00:07:03]President Macron and I agreed to strengthen cooperation in digital health, laboratory systems, and epidemic preparedness, including the improved use of real-time data for early detection and response.

[00:07:19]This will enhance health care delivery and strengthen Kenya's capacity to respond to future outbreaks, including managing our extensive program on universal health coverage in Kenya.

[00:07:33]We also welcome the deepening cooperation in education and skills development, particularly in STEM and technical and vocational education and training.

[00:07:43]The state-of-the-art University Nairobi University of Nairobi Engineering and Science Complex at a cost of 35 million euro is now moving into implementation phase with the designs finalized, procurement underway, and contractor onboarding expected later this year.

[00:08:05]Just for your information, Mr. President, Nairobi University is my alma mater.

[00:08:10]So, at the same time, the higher education engineering equipment support project will equip our uni- our four of our universities with modern engineering laboratories and equipment for mechanical, electrical, and civil engineering training.

[00:08:29]These investments will expand hands-on training, strengthen teaching capacity, and produce the skilled engineers and technicians needed to drive Kenya's industrial growth.

[00:08:43]And we can share these very high-skilled labor, Mr. President, with France if we establish official structured channels of overseas employment of Kenyans.

[00:08:56]On regional and global issues, we affirm our shared commitment to multilateralism, climate action, and the reform of the global financial architecture to ensure fair and predictable predictable access to financing for developing countries. I want to thank you, Mr. President, that um you have undertaken that we will have a robust conversation on Tuesday on how France can work with us and work with the rest of the G7 on how to enhance African financial institutions, including ATIDI, uh so that we can use uh those institutions to leverage more resources from our pension funds, from our insurance companies to make resources available for development of infrastructure and other facilities in our continent.

[00:09:56]We also agreed that the Africa France Summit must move beyond dialogue to implementation with a clear focus on investment, innovation and partnerships that deliver measurable results.

[00:10:13]We are confident that the outcomes of this summit will strengthen economic cooperation, mobilize financing and support Africa's development priorities.

[00:10:26]Kenya remains committed to deepening its partnership with France and advancing a forward-looking model of cooperation anchored in investment, mutual benefit and shared responsibility.

[00:10:41]We view this summit as a turning point towards a more balanced, action-oriented and results-driven Africa Finance Africa France partnership.

[00:10:54]Ladies and gentlemen, I have extended our gratitude to President Macron for the confidence demonstrated in hosting the fresh Africa Summit, the first ever to be hosted by an Anglophone country in Kenya.

[00:11:18]Mr. President, I want to promise you that we will not disappoint.

[00:11:22]And um the confidence you have demonstrated in Kenya um confirms to you that you have friends on this other side.

[00:11:34]And you can count on our partnership, you can count on our friendship, and you can count on our collaboration and cooperation.

[00:11:43]Ladies and gentlemen, it's now my pleasure to request His Excellency the President to make his statement.

[00:11:49]Mr. President.

[00:11:50]>> [applause] >> Thank you, Mr. President. Dear William, my dear friend, ministers, ambassadors, members of press, ladies and gentlemen, thank you very much.

[00:12:28]Same after visiting Kenya, which attracts many French stakeholders. And this has been proven in the past in the past few years. In 2012, there were only 35 French companies that invested in your country. And we have 140 today with 36,000 jobs. And over the past three decades, we have roughly [snorts] 3 billion euros invested. And in over the last decade, we have 1.8 billion euros invested by France. And over 1 billion euros have been signed for an amount of over 1 billion euros of French investment.

[00:13:06]>> [applause] >> So, we managed to build something together which is a new relationship.

[00:13:15]And which I think, and you reminded us of the container, is there to live up to your challenges. We want to invest in human capital. And that's the idea between the investments we want to make at the University of Nairobi, the university, Mr. President, your alma mater, of course.

[00:13:32]Uh for which we would like to support the building of a new uh building complex for science and engineering. And we also carry partnerships with the best higher education schools in uh in Paris, France, in Saclay for engineering, artificial intelligence, and other disciplines of the kind.

[00:13:50]And uh through these partnerships between innovation, research, and education, it's a whole future generation of engineers from Kenya who will be working on the new models of artificial intelligence and solutions for climate uh resilience, which is a good thing for the country and the region. So, France is mobilizing its know-how in uh key sectors for growth and innovation in Kenya.

[00:14:15]Energy infrastructures, digital infrastructures, and which are your priorities. And that's the reason for which uh French businesses are investing and believe in the potential of Kenya. CMA CGM, which has just committed to renovate two terminals of the Mombasa port uh for a natural investment of 700 million uh euro. Meridiam, which is going to extend the second largest wind farm uh in the country for uh 225 million dollars.

[00:14:46]And in total, through all of these projects, uh there's over 1 billion euros worth of investment that have just been signed. Uh the projects uh in the contracts we have signed today, which is a result of the past months' work or uh years' work, have allowed us to uh improve the uh the life uh the life of the Kenyans through a new electro-electrical plants, a power plant, and uh the new railway and signaling system to uh to uh release the pressure on the capital, the renovation of the Masinde town, uh the new uh digital highway to extend the fiber connection to most of the country and a partnership on long-lasting fuels, on sustainable fuels between our respective companies and the improvement of our partnership for climate monitoring and weather monitoring to be put to good use for a smart agriculture and our partnership in the production of tea.

[00:15:51]Uh, the sophistication, uh, the upgrading and the increasing of the added value of your tea through the partnerships that we have signed.

[00:16:00]And uh talking about power and energy, the one the partnership that we've just signed is one field of civil nuclear energy. And partnerships in Maridiem for wind farms, well, there's our will, our common will to build something long-lasting and this is our partnership our partnership for civil nuclear energy. What I'm saying here, Mr. President, is that you're partnering with France and committing to France is something that testifies to your trust and something that we consider important because civil nuclear energy in France is something that we've been building since after World War II and that we've uh, very often shared with trustworthy partners and it allows This allows us today to produce 75% of our electricity in France, which is low carbon. When we talk about civil nuclear energy, we're talking about something essential for our country. So, we know how to produce it in a safe way, in a sustainable way, in a fully secure way and this is not something that we're selling, it's something we use at home.

[00:17:12]With public companies, state companies that have the poison of this. So, over the bill for the president said, what I wanted to remind you about our bilateral partnership, as you probably understand, is an opportunity for us to build a wider partnership through the organization of this first Africa War Forum Summit.

[00:17:32]Tomorrow evening, Mr. President, you were kind enough to welcome 35 heads of state and government from Africa and 50 or so delegations that will be coming as well, be mobilized as well. The first day we will have a day at the University of Nairobi to highlight the different partnerships within I mean, this is a real premiere and only by the number of people mobilized, heads of state, CEOs, I mean, this is a real premiere and already a great success.

[00:18:03]So, how exciting to look at the future and I would like to thank you, Mr. President.

[00:18:08]Now, >> [applause] >> With your permission, your excellencies, we'll now take as you represent keep your question as short and crisp as possible. To the questions.

[00:18:44]Mr. President, easy.

[00:18:50]Post Citizen TV.

[00:18:52]Just one question.

[00:18:55]Are you concerned that some of these countries in the Western Africa region are not part of this conversation?

[00:19:04]You know There are many French speaking part of Africa, where France found itself in trouble recently.

[00:19:27]Between Kenya and France is a relationship between friends.

[00:19:35]And in Kenya and Kenya has interests in a relationship with France. And I have said this is a relationship that has been built since our independence.

[00:19:52]France has been our friend. It's among the first countries to recognize Kenya's independence, and they have walked with us that journey ever since.

[00:20:03]And therefore, um we have relationships with other countries. We have relationships with other partners.

[00:20:12]Um but the relationship with France is special. Special because there is a very personal relationship between President Macron, myself, and Kenya.

[00:20:24]And that relationship has earned us um the place where we are today.

[00:20:30]Um the first uh summit signaling a shift to a broader, much more inclusive uh relationship with Africa, with the priorities of my administration and the priorities of Vision 2030, uh Kenyan Vision.

[00:20:51]Um on the airport, we have agreed on what to do in the airport space. We have agreed on what to do on um uh agriculture space, uh smart agriculture. We share very common positions on the reform of the international financial architecture. I have taken time to brief uh my brother, President Macron, on the national infrastructure fund, a mechanism we established uh recently, and how they can participate uh so that we can leverage more resources, and I'm truly grateful that he has offered to work with us and work with the African Development Bank, which I met uh today, to assist ATIDI, which is our insurance facility, so that um mechanisms such as the national infrastructure fund, which targets Kenya's development, can be assisted to leverage private sector resources, pension resources, insurance resources, crowding in with other partners so that we can have adequate resources to run our development program. And therefore, this Africa-France Summit and the bilateral relationship between Africa and France speaks to Kenya's transformation because the tenets and