Nairobi, May 15, 2026 – On the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit held in Nairobi on May 11 and 12, France, through the French Development Agency (AFD), signed five agreements with the Kenyan government, reaffirming their strategic partnership in the areas of renewable energy, digital connectivity, water management, and education. These agreements, totaling approximately 170 million euros, were concluded during two ceremonies: on May 10 at State House, in the presence of Presidents Emmanuel Macron and William Ruto, and on May 13 at the National Treasury, in the presence of the Minister Delegate in charge of International Partnership, H.E. Mrs. Éléonore Caroit, and the new Director General of the AFD, Mr. Christophe Lecourtier, marking a significant advancement in Franco-Kenyan cooperation.
Co-organized by France and Kenya, the summit brought together 30 African heads of state, ministers, and business leaders for two days of high-level exchanges, including the Inspire & Connect Forum at the University of Nairobi on May 11 and a ministerial session on May 12 at the Kenya International Convention Centre (KICC).
The AFD’s participation in this summit was particularly significant: it marked the first major commitment of the newly appointed Director General, Christophe Lecourtier, who took office in Nairobi on May 11, making the Africa Forward Summit a historic moment for the AFD Group.
A renewed commitment to clean energy and digital connectivity
At State House, Nairobi, on the eve of the summit, the AFD – represented by Tristan-Aurel Mouline, Deputy Director General of the AFD Group – and its Kenyan partners formalized two declarations of intent, in the presence of Presidents Emmanuel Macron and William Ruto. These agreements commit the Agency to strategic investments in clean energy and digital connectivity, two sectors at the heart of Kenya’s development priorities and the broader framework of Franco-African cooperation.
With the AFD’s cumulative financing to the Kenyan energy sector exceeding one billion euros, these declarations are part of a long-standing partnership and demonstrate a renewed ambition to accelerate Kenya’s transition to a low-carbon and digitally connected economy.
The two declarations of intent cover: 85 million euros for the enhancement of the Masinga dam with KenGen, one of Kenya’s most strategic clean energy infrastructures, ensuring electricity supply to millions of Kenyans; and 80 million euros – co-financed by the AFD, the French Treasury, and the European Union – to deploy 3,500 kilometers of fiber optic cables, connecting schools, hospitals, and public services in 43 counties.
Three cooperation agreements in the fields of energy, water, and education
On May 13 at the National Treasury, in the presence of the Minister Delegate in charge of International Partnership, H.E. Mrs. Éléonore Caroit, and the French Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Mr. Arnaud Suquet, the newly appointed Director General of the AFD, Christophe Lecourtier, signed two technical cooperation agreements totaling 1.5 million euros, mobilizing French expertise in support of Franco-Kenyan cooperation in the fields of energy and water.
The first agreement strengthens KenGen’s skills in dam safety and hydropower management, in partnership with French companies ISL and the Compagnie Nationale du Rhône (CNR). The second agreement improves the performance of water distribution operators in Kisumu and Eldoret, thanks to French expertise in the water sector.
On May 13, during an event celebrating Franco-Kenyan academic cooperation, the University of Nairobi signed and announced several structuring partnerships with the support of the AFD, strengthening Nairobi’s growing role as a regional hub for Franco-African research, innovation, and training. These announcements notably included an Africa-France academic partnership on agribusiness with a French consortium led by AgroParisTech, the creation of an “Energy” industrial Chair at the university partly funded by French and Kenyan companies, as part of the Science and Engineering Complex project financed by the AFD through loans and grants.
“Taking up my position here, in Nairobi, during this historic summit, sends a clear message: Africa is at the heart of AFD’s ambitions. These agreements demonstrate our commitment to building a concrete, sustainable partnership with Kenya, rooted in the priorities of its government and its people: clean energy, water, digital access, and youth employment,” said Mr. Christophe Lecourtier, Director General of the AFD Group, upon assuming his duties.
“What we have signed this week goes beyond numbers and financing. It is a commitment to millions of Kenyans: the farmer in need of reliable electricity, the student in need of internet, and the youth accessing employment opportunities through an enriched university curriculum. AFD is proud to stand alongside Kenya to make this future possible,” said Mrs. Anne-Gael Chapuis, Country Director of the AFD in Kenya.
Sport serving inclusion and opportunities in Kenya
On May 11, on the sidelines of the Inspire & Connect Forum at the University of Nairobi, the AFD organized sports demonstrations in the presence of Presidents Macron and Ruto, bringing together young beneficiaries, high-level athletes, institutional representatives, and development partners around basketball, athletics, and football. These demonstrations illustrated the role of sport as a powerful lever for social cohesion, youth empowerment, and economic opportunities on the African continent.
At the heart of this afternoon was the Basketball Experience Kenya project, co-financed by the AFD and the NBA and implemented by Expertise France. Launched to provide young Kenyans with access to quality sports coaching and life skills training, the project was highlighted through demonstrations led by its coaches, with inclusive activities designed for young people with disabilities – demonstrating that sport is a vector of inclusion for all.
The athletics activities were supported by Decathlon, Kiprun, the House of Coaches initiative, and the Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation, bringing together young athletes and coaches in the spirit of Franco-African cooperation. Football tournaments were organized with local associations Alive and Kicking, Fútbol Más, and Angaza Sport and Development Centre, in partnership with the Kenyan Football Federation, highlighting the role of grassroots sports in strengthening communities.
About the AFD Group
The AFD Group finances and accelerates transitions for a fairer, safer, and more resilient world, by committing to populations with its partners around the world. With its complementary entities – the French Development Agency for public financing, Proparco for responsible private investment, and Expertise France for technical expertise – the Group addresses all issues related to sustainable development.
Operating in more than 160 countries and Overseas Territories, it adapts its interventions to the realities on the ground, actively supporting local initiatives. With over 4,000 projects aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the AFD Group, on behalf of the French, mobilizes all actors engaged in economic development and the preservation of common goods: climate, biodiversity, peace, gender equality, and global health. On the side of others, for a shared world.
