Kenya is hosting the Africa Forward 2026 summit in partnership with France, the first of its kind held outside a Francophone country.The summit, which brings together African leaders and business executives from across the continent and beyond, has sparked criticism at home and abroad.Since President William Ruto took office, Kenya has opened itself up to partnerships with Western countries, positioning itself as the most stable and accessible country in the region.However, France’s colonial past continues to haunt Paris as it has lost influence in several former colonies in West Africa.In response, French President Emmanuel Macron turned to Kenya, a country known for its openness to European investment.So, what are the benefits and losses for either side of the Kenya-France partnership?Defence cooperationFrance and Kenya signed a defence cooperation agreement in April 2026. It was preceded by the arrival of 800 French troops in Kenya’s coastal city of Mombasa for a joint training exercise with the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).After the agreement’s signing, critics warned that Kenya could risk falling under the influence of a neo-colonial power, citing France’s history of unequal partnerships in West Africa.The automatic five-year renewable deal includes partnerships in maritime security, intelligence, peacekeeping and humanitarian assistance and disaster response. France has already deployed 600 military personnel to Kenya, with official …
