Paris, 29 April 2026 — As Kenya prepares to co-host the upcoming Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, several members of the African diaspora, including representatives from the Kenyan community, were invited to the Élysée Palace by French President Emmanuel Macron for a special exchange titled “Towards Africa Forward: Exchange with African Diasporas.”
The meeting took place just days before the Africa Forward Summit: Africa-France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth, scheduled for 11 and 12 May 2026 in Nairobi. The summit is being jointly organised by Kenya and France and will bring together President William Ruto, President Emmanuel Macron, African heads of state, business leaders, investors, innovators, and civil society actors.
The Élysée meeting highlighted a clear message: African diasporas are no longer being viewed only as communities abroad, but as strategic partners in shaping the future of Africa-France relations. Through entrepreneurship, investment, cultural exchange, innovation, advocacy, and community mobilisation, diasporas continue to play an important role in building bridges between Africa and Europe.
For the Kenyan diaspora in France and across Europe, the meeting carried particular importance. With Nairobi hosting the summit, Kenya is positioned at the centre of a new conversation on Africa-France cooperation. The event offers an opportunity to showcase Kenya’s role as a regional hub for innovation, technology, entrepreneurship, climate action, culture, and investment.
Several Kenyans were among those invited to the Élysée, underlining the growing recognition of the Kenyan community’s contribution to strengthening ties between Kenya and France. Their presence reflected the diversity and dynamism of the Kenyan diaspora, from professionals and entrepreneurs to community organisers and cultural actors.
At the heart of the discussions was the ambition of Africa Forward: to promote renewed, balanced, and mutually beneficial partnerships between Africa and France. According to official information from the summit organisers, the Nairobi gathering will focus on innovation, growth, investment, and inclusive partnerships, with events expected at key venues including KICC and the University of Nairobi.
Beyond official speeches, the Élysée exchange also provided space to recognise the concrete work already being done by African communities in France. Many diaspora-led initiatives continue to support business links, education, cultural diplomacy, social development, and investment between France and African countries.
As the countdown begins to the Nairobi summit, the participation of the Kenyan diaspora at the Élysée sends a strong signal. It shows that Kenyans abroad are not spectators in the future of Kenya-France and Africa-France relations. They are active contributors, connectors, and ambassadors.
For Kenya, hosting Africa Forward is more than a diplomatic milestone. It is an opportunity to place Nairobi at the heart of a renewed Africa-France partnership and to highlight the important role of the diaspora in shaping that future.
