NAIROBI, Kenya — President William Samoei Ruto on Tuesday held talks with France’s Ambassador to Kenya, Arnaud Suquet, as Nairobi steps up preparations to host the upcoming Africa Forward Summit.
Ruto said Kenya and France share “strong, cordial relations grounded in shared values and mutual interests,” noting that France has emerged as one of Kenya’s leading investors across multiple sectors.
“We are expanding cooperation across key sectors, including green industrialisation, the blue economy, agriculture, health, the digital economy, infrastructure, and education, to unlock greater opportunities for our people,” the President said following the meeting at State House, Nairobi.
The discussions focused on joint preparations for the Africa Forward Summit scheduled for May 11–12, which will be hosted in Kenya for the first time outside a Francophone country. Officials say the move marks a significant shift aimed at broadening the summit’s reach and influence across the continent.
At the summit, leaders are expected to deliberate on reforming the international financial architecture and strengthening sustainable economic partnerships, with Kenya positioning itself as a key voice in advancing Africa’s development agenda.
President Ruto also confirmed that Kenya has been invited to participate in the G7 Summit by French President Emmanuel Macron, an opportunity he said would allow the country to project Africa’s priorities onto the global stage.
“Coming immediately after the Africa Forward Summit, the G7 Summit presents an important opportunity to carry forward Africa’s priorities into global deliberations and reinforce the link between regional perspectives and global decision-making,” Ruto said.
Kenya’s invitation to the G7 underscores its growing diplomatic profile and strategic importance in global economic and political discussions, particularly on issues such as climate finance, debt restructuring, and sustainable development.
The meeting highlights Nairobi’s continued push to position itself as a regional hub for diplomacy, investment, and multilateral engagement, leveraging its stable political environment and strategic location in East Africa.
As preparations for the Africa Forward Summit gather pace, attention will turn to the outcomes of the high-level engagements and whether they translate into tangible economic and policy gains for Kenya and the wider continent.
