Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi on Saturday departed the country for an official visit to Paris, where he is scheduled to hold a series of high-level diplomatic engagements with the French government and private sector leaders.
According to the Office of the Prime Cabinet Secretary, the visit is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen Kenya’s long-standing bilateral relations with France, which have expanded over the years from traditional development assistance to broader cooperation.
The Kenya–France partnership now spans key areas including trade, education, peace and security, healthcare, climate action, and technological innovation.
Mudavadi’s visit comes ahead of the Africa–France Summit set to be hosted by Kenya in May, marking a historic first for a non-Francophone African country since the forum was established in 1973.
The Nairobi summit is expected to attract more than 5,000 delegates, including heads of state and government, private sector executives, international organisations, civil society actors, and global media.
Government officials have described the selection of Nairobi as a major diplomatic milestone and a recognition of Kenya’s rising profile on the continental and global stage.
“The summit signals Kenya’s status as a diplomatic and environmental leader in Africa,” the Office said in a statement, noting that it reflects sustained efforts by President William Ruto’s administration to position the country as a continental hub for diplomacy and innovation.
While in Paris, Mudavadi is expected to hold bilateral talks with France’s Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, Jean-Noël Barrot, with discussions focusing on preparations for the May summit and broader cooperation.
He is also set to sign a cooperation agreement between Kenya and the Agence Française de Développement (AFD), aimed at enhancing development financing and strategic partnerships.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary’s itinerary includes engagements with Medef, France’s largest employers’ federation, and executives from major French firms such as Airbus, Thales, In Groupe, Winwin Afrique, and CFAO, as Kenya seeks to deepen trade, investment, and industrial collaboration.
Mudavadi will also meet staff at Kenya’s embassy in Paris and hold talks with officials from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), in keeping with the tradition of engaging Kenyan diplomats during official overseas missions.