A poster displays French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenyan President William Ruto in Nairobi, May 6, 2026. SIMON MAINA/AFP
In 2019, Emmanuel Macron made the first official visit to Kenya by a French president since the East African country's independence 56 years ago, when Uhuru Kenyatta was president. Seven years later, under the presidency of William Ruto, Nairobi is hosting the "Africa Forward" summit on May 11 and 12, a new iteration of the traditional Africa-France summits.
According to several analysts in Kenya, "there is good chemistry" between Macron and Ruto, and "the two men appreciate each other." Both presidents have pushed for reforming the international financial architecture so that African countries can access development funding more easily and at lower cost, a key topic at the Nairobi meeting.
Climate is another shared priority. France and Kenya are both members of the Paris Pact for People and the Planet (4P), an initiative that calls for international financing better adapted to countries vulnerable to climate change.
But behind this rapprochement lie converging interests. "Emmanuel Macron sees William Ruto as an African leader he can work with to promote France's agenda as a major power," said Macharia Munene, professor of international relations at United States International University in Nairobi. Meanwhile, Ruto is seeking international recognition as domestic discontent rises, particularly over the rising cost of living. In 2024 and 2025, mass protests by young people were harshly repressed. Around 60 people were killed, and dozens remain missing.
