Friday, 13th February 2026, was a special day at the University of Nairobi, Jomo Kenyatta Memorial Library.
The Deputy Vice Chancellor for Finance, Planning and Development, Prof. Jackson Maalu, welcomed the guests and made remarks on behalf of the Vice Chancellor. Prof. Maalu began by saying that the iconic building, Jomo Kenyatta Memorial Library, which happened to be the venue, was named after the founding father of Kenya. He mentioned that France is a key strategic partner in Kenya and core to the transformation agenda. He then ushered Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, Dr. Korir Sing’Oei, to make his remarks. The Principal Secretary highlighted some areas of partnership between the two countries, including economic ties, Tourism, and security issues.
Dr. Korir then invited the Minister Delegate for Francophonie and International Partnerships, H.E. Eleonore Caroit. The minister said that since the election of President Macron, his government has been keen on partnerships and transformations to create an economic environment for everyone.
The event was in preparation for the upcoming Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, scheduled for May 2026 in Nairobi. The summit focuses on building bridges, and some of the areas to address are AI, blue economy technologies, and international finance architecture.
