Spurned by Sahel, France courts Kenya, a place it didn't colonize
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- France signs a new defense cooperation agreement with Kenya and sends 800 soldiers to Mombasa for joint training.
- Kenya prepares to host the Africa‑France Summit, the first summit held in a non‑Francophone, English‑speaking African nation since 1973.
- U.S. designates Kenya a major non‑NATO ally, the third sub‑Saharan state, and funds a $70 million runway expansion at Manda Bay Air Base.
- Iran‑related war with Israel drives fuel price spikes in Kenya, prompting the government to focus on road and infrastructure upgrades.
- Trump administration maintains strong diplomatic ties, with State Department funding and Secretary of State Marco Rubio thanking President Ruto for condemning Iranian strikes.
Why it matters: Kenya gains $70 million runway funding and heightened security ties, while France recovers influence after losing Sahel footholds; the partnership boosts Kenya’s defense industry and shifts regional power balances.
