President William Ruto addresses a congregation at Siloam Ministries Church in Kisauni, Mombasa County where he attended the New Year’s Sunday service. PHOTO | WACHIRA MWANGI
President William Ruto will on January 23, 2023, depart for France on a three-day official visit.
While in Paris, President Ruto is expected to hold talks with his counterpart President Macron on the status of key development projects agreed upon by the two countries. Regional peace will also feature in discussions
President Ruto’s visit to France comes months after his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta signed three bilateral agreements between Kenya and France.
These include a public-private partnership (PPP) for the construction of the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit highway signed between KeNHA and Vinci Concessions.
The highway is one of the largest PPP projects in Eastern Africa.
Others were agreements for the development of the Nairobi central business district (CBD) to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) commuter railway line and the 400kV Menengai-Rongai electricity transmission line.
“Our aspiration is to see that this commuter railway line eases traffic in Nairobi but also eases the movement of people within Nairobi. We hope that along the route and the surrounding areas, other businesses will be able to grow,” Kenya’s Ambassador to France Prof Judy Wakhungu said at the time.
France and Kenya enjoy deep trade relations, seen by the presence of major French multinationals in Kenya particularly in the manufacturing and energy sectors.
Oil giant TotalEnergies is one of the key players in the Kenyan market, while others such as logistics firm Bolloré Group, automaker Peugeot S.A, NAS Servair and food group Danone — which owns 40 percent stake in Brookside Dairies — have a visible and significant presence in the local market.
French private equity and development finance institutions such as Proparco and Amethis Finance have also made investments in Kenyan firms over the years, including retailer Naivas, Kenafric Industries, Equity Group and Kericho Gold maker Global Tea.
President Ruto will then travel to Dakar, Senegal and deliver a keynote address at the Dakar summit on ‘feed Africa, sovereignty and Resilience’
The summit, organized by the Africa Development Bank, convenes at a time when Africa is experiencing serious food security challenges. It is, therefore, an appropriate forum for Heads of State and other partners to discuss how to exploit Africa’s agricultural potential and the plans and programs that will help scale up production.
It will also be an opportunity for leaders in the continent to find ways through which Africa can meet the rising cost of food.
President Ruto’s trip comes against the backdrop of increased pressure from the opposition with Azimio leader Raila Odinga declaring he does not recognize the Head of State.
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