President William Ruto on Wednesday, September 24, met French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
In a statement after the meeting, Ruto said the two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations and advancing multilateral cooperation between Kenya and France.
“Held talks with President Emmanuel Macron of France on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. We reaffirmed our shared commitment to strengthening relations between Kenya and France, and to deepening multilateral cooperation that advances global goals,” Ruto stated.
The Head of State also announced that Kenya and France will co-host the Africa Forward: Africa–France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth Summit in Nairobi on May 11–12, 2026.
“The Summit will bring together African and French Heads of State and Government to drive innovation, foster growth, and shape a future built on mutual benefit,” Ruto added, noting that the initiative marks a renewal of relations between France and African nations.
Separately, President Ruto held talks with US Secretary of State and National Security Advisor Marco Rubio. Their discussions, he said, covered a broad spectrum of bilateral, regional, and global issues.
“At the bilateral level, we agreed to strengthen relations by expanding trade, concluding a trade agreement by the end of the year, boosting U.S. investment in Kenya, and deepening security cooperation, particularly in counter-terrorism,” Ruto revealed.
Rubio, on his part, commended Kenya’s leadership and reaffirmed Washington’s commitment to closer collaboration with Nairobi in advancing regional peace and security. The two also discussed the future of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), set to expire at the end of September.
President Ruto departed for the United States on Saturday, September 20, to attend the High-Level Week of the 80th UNGA Session, during which he has held a series of strategic engagements with world leaders and development partners.
