Ruto hails deepening Kenya-France ties as French Ambassador Suquet ends four-year tour

Nairobi, Kenya - President William Ruto expressed his appreciation for the strengthening strategic bond between Kenya and France, as outgoing French Ambassador Arnaud Suquet wraps up his four-year term in Nairobi. At a farewell ceremony at State House Nairobi, Ruto highlighted the expanding scope of Kenya-France relations, which now encompass diplomacy, trade, strategic investments, and high-level collaboration.

The President noted that the relationship had reached "new heights" in recent years, with France becoming a crucial ally in Kenya's development plans.

A significant achievement in this partnership was the Africa Forward Summit, co-organized by Ruto and French President Emmanuel Macron in Nairobi in May 2026. This marked the inaugural summit of its kind, held outside France or Francophone Africa. The event led to the signing of 11 bilateral agreements, addressing critical aspects of Kenya's economic and developmental priorities.

Among the key commitments were a Sh12.5 billion upgrade of the Nairobi Commuter Rail, plans to enhance national digital connectivity, construction of a science complex at the University of Nairobi, and the development of an aviation fuel project.

Ruto described these agreements as indicative of the increasingly practical nature of Kenya-France relations, as diplomatic ties are translated into tangible investments and projects with direct impacts on infrastructure, technology, education, and transport. "The ties are strong and expanding," Ruto stated, acknowledging the strategic investments and high-level cooperation that have defined the relationship between Kenya and France.

The President also paid tribute to Suquet for his contributions during his tenure in Kenya, wishing him well as he assumes a new role at the French Foreign Ministry. As Suquet leaves, Kenya and France are poised to build upon the momentum from the Africa Forward Summit, translating the commitments into real-world projects. The summit's outcomes have elevated the Kenya-France partnership beyond conventional diplomatic engagement, focusing on infrastructure, digital transformation, science, and energy as central components of bilateral cooperation.