French President Emmanuel Macron swapped the formal atmosphere of high-level summit meetings for running shoes on Monday morning as he joined Kenyan marathon icon Eliud Kipchoge for a jog on the streets of Nairobi.

Macron, who is in Kenya for the Africa Forward Summit, was spotted jogging alongside the two-time Olympic champion in a relaxed morning session that quickly drew attention online.

The French leader was dressed in a navy blue track shirt featuring a thick white stripe on the sleeves, paired with black shorts and blue running shoes.

Beside him, Kipchoge appeared calm and composed in matching running gear, with the pair seemingly engaged in conversation as they paced through the Nairobi roads.

Trailing behind them was a group of runners and what appeared to be members of the presidential security team, keeping stride as the two maintained a steady pace.

The rare sight of a sitting French president jogging alongside one of Kenya’s greatest athletes offered a lighter moment away from the busy schedule of the Africa Forward Summit, which has brought together heads of state, investors and policymakers in Nairobi.

Kipchoge, widely regarded as one of the greatest marathon runners in history, has become a global symbol of endurance and discipline, attracting admiration from world leaders and sports enthusiasts alike.

The morning jog came as the high-level Africa Forward Summit officially got underway in Nairobi, drawing heads of state, senior government officials, investors, innovators and policymakers from across Africa and Europe.

Emmanuel Macron is among the key global leaders attending the two-day summit, which is co-hosted by Kenya and France and is focused on deepening Africa-Europe partnerships through trade, infrastructure development, climate action, technology and investment.

The summit has already seen Kenya and France sign several bilateral agreements covering transport, renewable energy, digital transformation, agriculture and education.

Leaders are also expected to hold discussions on reforming global financing systems, expanding investment opportunities for African economies and strengthening cooperation in innovation and green growth.

For Kenya, hosting the summit marks a major diplomatic moment, with Nairobi positioning itself as a regional hub for business, diplomacy and international partnerships.

The event has attracted delegations from across the continent, including presidents, prime ministers, foreign ministers and representatives of international organisations.