MOMBASA — France and Kenya signed a defense cooperation agreement in April 2026 establishing an automatic five-year renewable partnership covering maritime security, intelligence, peacekeeping, and humanitarian assistance and disaster response. The agreement grants French forces diplomatic-style immunity in Kenya and requires disputes to be resolved through diplomatic channels rather than Kenyan courts.

Under the accord, France has primary jurisdiction over offenses committed by its soldiers on Kenyan soil, and convicted French personnel may serve sentences in France. France has deployed 600 military personnel to Kenya to provide training for Kenya Defence Forces personnel, and 800 French troops arrived in Mombasa for a joint training exercise with the Kenya Defence Forces.

Nelson Koech, Chair of the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations, said the agreement does not entail a permanent French troop presence in Kenya. Addressing characterizations of the jurisdiction provisions, Koech said, "It is completely untrue. We have said crimes like murder must be tried in Kenya."

Kenya has ratified defense cooperation agreements with China, Zimbabwe, the Czech Republic, Ethiopia, and France. The United Kingdom and the United States both maintain military bases in Kenya.

"For Kenya, military and defence engagement with France complements existing security agreements with countries like the UK and the US, who both maintain bases in Kenya. It is seen as advantageous for Kenya's counterterrorism efforts against threats such as al-Shabab." said Patricia Rodrigues, Africa Director at Control Risks.

Rodrigues also addressed the broader framing of the relationship. "Neither side is looking to be free from the influence of the other. The goal is to deepen strategic economic ties in a turbulent trade and geopolitical context. Both sides want to move away from models that prioritise the export of raw materials from Africa for processing abroad and away from aid-based relationships that create dependency." she said.

According to Kenyan government data, France is Kenya's fourth-largest foreign direct investment partner and the fifth-largest provider of foreign direct investment, supporting about 46,000 direct jobs. France has invested 1.8 billion euros in Kenya over the past decade, and Kenya is the largest consumer of French products in East Africa. As of 2026, at least 140 French companies operate in Kenya, up from 40 in 2013.

In March 2026, Business France East Africa and the French Chamber of Commerce in Kenya launched a business guide to help French investors navigate opportunities in Kenya. Since President William Ruto took office, Kenya has pursued partnerships with Western countries. Kenya has faced waves of political unrest since 2024, with citizens protesting Ruto's policies, including crackdowns on demonstrations and restrictions on press freedom.

French President Emmanuel Macron said, "None of them [Sahel countries] would be a sovereign country today if the French army had not deployed in the region." France has lost influence in several former colonies in West Africa, and Macron turned to Kenya following those setbacks.