France–Kenya relations are

bilateral relations Bilateralism is the conduct of political, economic, or cultural relations between two sovereign states. It is in contrast to unilateralism or multilateralism, which is activity by a single state or jointly by multiple states, respectively. When ...

between

France France, officially the French Republic, is a country located primarily in Western Europe. Overseas France, Its overseas regions and territories include French Guiana in South America, Saint Pierre and Miquelon in the Atlantic Ocean#North Atlan ...

and

Kenya Kenya, officially the Republic of Kenya, is a country located in East Africa. With an estimated population of more than 52.4 million as of mid-2024, Kenya is the 27th-most-populous country in the world and the 7th most populous in Africa. ...

History

France recognises that Kenya plays a key role in regional stability. Cooperation between both countries has increased, especially after the inclusion of the dilo attacks of Kenya in the Priority Solidarity Zone (ZSP) by the French government in 1999. In 2011, the Prime Minister of Kenya, Raila Odinga and his French counterpart,

François Fillon François Charles Amand Fillon (; born 4 March 1954) is a French retired politician who served as Prime Minister of France from 2007 to 2012 under President Nicolas Sarkozy. He was the nominee of The Republicans (previously known as the Union ...

signed a declaration to strengthen the partnership between both countries. There have also been high level exchanges between both countries. Notable Kenyans to visit France also include Wangari Maathai and George Saitoti as (Minister of Internal Security and Acting Foreign Minister).
. French-Kenyan Relations. Retrieved on 15 January 2015. Notable French government officials include: Herve Morin (Defence Minister), Rama Yade (Secretary Minister for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights), Alain Joyandet (Secretary of State for Cooperation and La Francophonie), Jean-Louis Borloo (Minister for Ecology), Chantal Jouanno (Secretary of State for Ecology), Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet (Minister for Ecology, Sustainable Development, Transports and Housing), and the parliamentary group for Franc-Kenya friendship.

Development cooperation

Kenya and France have signed multiple agreements on cooperation. Currently both countries are working on a new bilateral agreement for scientific cooperation. As of 2009, a five-year scientific agreement establishes the modalities of scientific and technical cooperation.
. Partners in Kenya , La France au Kenya. Retrieved on 15 January 2015. In 2014, AFD, the French Development Agency, and the Government of Kenya signed 100 million EUR (11.5 billion KES) soft loan. Under the deal AFD will finance a project for the expansion of Nairobi's water system. In 2013, a project to connect the Kenyan and Ethiopian power grids was signed. Under the deal AFD will provide a 91 million EUR (10.5 billion KES) soft loan.. France finances two major projects of Vision 2030 for 22 billion KES . Retrieved on 15 January 2015. The conditions of the loans from AFD are soft. The loans have a 20 to 25-year period of maturity with a grace period of 7 years and an interest rate currently of less than 2%. Unlike many agreements being signed by Kenya, the loans are open for competitive bidding. This means the loan doesn't support French owned companies. China which has been Kenya's largest financier in recent years doesn't allow for competitive bidding in deals it signs. The deals are mostly meant to support Chinese owned firms, as they are the only firms allowed to execute the projects. In 2020, Kenya and France signed a €1.3 billion public-private partnership deal in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

for the expansion of a 140 km highway between

Nairobi Nairobi is the Capital city, capital and largest city of Kenya. The city lies in the south-central part of Kenya, at an elevation of . The name is derived from the Maasai language, Maasai phrase , which translates to 'place of cool waters', a ...

and

Nakuru Nakuru (nicknamed Nax) is a city in the Rift Valley region of Kenya. It is the capital of Nakuru County, and it is the fourth largest city in Kenya and the largest in the Rift Valley region. As of 2019, Nakuru had an urban population of 570, ...

. The project was to be led by a French consortium including Vinci Highways and

Meridiam Meridiam is a global investor and asset manager based in Paris specialized in developing, financing and managing long-term public infrastructure projects. Founded in 2005, Meridiam invests in public infrastructure across Europe, Africa and the Am ...

. However, in April 2025, Kenya announced the termination of the agreement, citing concerns over financial risks linked to traffic demand. The

Kenya National Highways Authority The Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) is an autonomous road agency. Its responsibility is for the management, development, rehabilitation, and maintenance of Class S, A and B roads as explained below. Location The headquarters of KeNHA ...

(KeNHA) stated that efforts to restructure the contract had failed. Although construction had not begun, Kenyan authorities indicated that a Chinese contractor is expected to take over the project, marking a shift in infrastructure cooperation away from France and towards

China China, officially the People's Republic of China (PRC), is a country in East Asia. With population of China, a population exceeding 1.4 billion, it is the list of countries by population (United Nations), second-most populous country after ...

Trade

Kenya is France's primary trade partner in East Africa. From 2011 to 2012 French exports to Kenya increased 35%. Exports to Kenya in 2011 were worth, KES. 18.4 billion (171 million EUR) in 2012 they were worth KES. 25.3 billion (235 million EUR).
Kenya and France , La France et le Kenya. Retrieved on 15 January 2015. Exports to France from Kenya were worth KES. 8.3 billion (77 million EUR) in 2012, against KES. 9.3 billion (86 million EUR) in 2011. Trade is heavily in favour of France as Kenyan exports are largely made up of agricultural produce.

FDI

As of 2011 French FDI in Kenya was worth KES. 21.5 billion (200 million EUR). Notable French firms in Kenya include Orange S.A. and Total. Air France-KLM also owns 26% of Kenya Airways, Africa's fourth largest airline. Kenya Airways has a direct flight from Nairobi to Paris. Other notable French firms include: Lafarge, Bolloré Africa, AGS, Air France Cargo, SDV Transami, L'Oréal, Pernod-Ricard, Alstom. Some French companies with regional headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya include: Danone, Alcatel, Alstom Grid, Sanofi, Veritas, Ceva Animal Health, Thales, Michelin, Sagem and Egis group. Nairobi is the regional headquarters for 20 countries for some of these firms.

Diplomatic missions

* France has an embassy in

. * Kenya has an embassy in

Education

The Lycée Denis Diderot (Kenya), Lycée Denis Diderot is a French school in the Kenyan capital.

References

External links

*
Kenya and France , La France et le Kenya
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