Kenya and France have moved closer towards a new defence agreement that would give French soldiers some diplomatic-like privileges when they visit or train here. The National Assembly is now asking ordinary Kenyans for their opinions before deciding whether to approve it.
The pact was signed again in October 2025 at the Defence Headquarters in Nairobi. Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya and French Ambassador Arnaud Suquet put their names to it. Officials from both sides called it a step forward in their long-standing ties.
Parliament got the agreement on November 27, 2025. That started the clock on a required public input period. On December 17, the Clerk of the National Assembly, Samuel Njoroge, put out a notice inviting people to send in written views. Anyone can submit a memorandum to his office by December 31, 2025. The Departmental Committee on Defence will look at those comments as part of their review.
What does the deal actually cover? It sets rules for when troops from one country visit the other. Kenya would offer French forces certain privileges, immunities, and help with logistics during joint activities. The same goes for Kenyan troops in France. Everything has to follow each country’s laws and respect sovereignty.
The two nations plan to work more on military training, building skills, sharing information, and doing exercises together. Other areas include intelligence, maritime security along the Indian Ocean coast, peacekeeping operations, and humanitarian aid. France has supported Kenya in these fields for years, including with equipment and training.
This kind of agreement is common between countries that train or operate together. The privileges often mean visiting soldiers face their own country’s military justice for serious issues, rather than local courts. It helps smooth out joint work without legal snags.
Some people might worry about giving foreign troops immunity. They could ask if it limits accountability or affects local rights. Others see it as necessary for stronger security ties. France has forces in nearby Djibouti, and Kenya deals with threats like al-Shabaab and piracy. Closer cooperation could help there.
Kenya already has a similar setup with the UK, where British troops train here under a defence pact. That one has faced questions over the years, pushing Parliament to clarify rules recently. The France deal seems to follow a comparable pattern.
The Ministry of Defence said after the signing that this marks a big step in relations. Tuya praised France’s past help. Ambassador Suquet stressed shared goals like regional stability and maritime safety.
Public participation is a must under the Constitution for treaties. It gives Kenyans a say before ratification. The committee will weigh the input, then report back to the full House.
If approved, the agreement could lead to more joint drills and exchanges soon. Kenya’s forces might get new training chances in France too.
For now, interested groups or individuals have until the end of the month to send views. You can email or deliver them to the Clerk’s office in the Parliament Buildings. Details are in the public notice.
This process shows how international deals need local buy-in. We’ll watch how the submissions go and what the committee recommends next.
