Speech of the Ambassador - Ambassade de France au Kenya

Allow me Your Excellency to present the compliments of my Head ofState and the People of France to you personally and through you to thepeople of Kenya.It is my earnest hope that I shall succeed in my endeavours to promotefurther the relations that exist between our two countries.Kenya is one of the key players in Africa today, and France prides itselfin the privileged dialogue which has developed between our countries.Kenya is committed, as is France, to the values of democracy, freedomof speech and enhancing citizenship. Kenya has recently taken animmensely significant step in adopting a new Constitution which gives itsinstitutions an even stronger basis. This is indeed a most favourabledevelopment for the future of Kenya, a long way from the more troubledtimes the country went through in 2008. On the dawn of the IIndRepublic, I convey to you once again President Nicolas Sarkozy’swarmest congratulations, and praise for the personal part you haveplayed in this historic outcome. My country stands at your side in theroad ahead, that of the implementation of the new constitution, and isready to support you actively, in any direction which you may deemappropriate. Your commitment in the fight against corruption, illustrated

y the latest developments, have been followed closely in France, andconsidered particularly impressive.My country is also very aware of the major part Kenya has beentirelessly playing to promote regional peace and security, whether in thefight against piracy, by accepting to take on a major share in theinternational efforts to fight this problem in trying arrested suspects; inenhancing co-operation within the East African community; or inendeavours to bring solutions to conflicts in Sudan or in Somalia.President Nicolas Sarkozy is convinced that the part played by Africa inworld issues must be better emphasised in international fora, and thatthe implication of key partners such as Kenya is crucial in this respect.Your country’s involvement in environmental issues testifies to this as itreflects positively on the entire continent. The forthcoming meeting onaccess to clean energy for African countries and countries vulnerable toclimate change (the Paris-Nairobi initiative) will be an importantmilestone, and I have been particularly instructed to ensure the bestcooperation towards it from the French side.

Political dialogue with Kenya is considered by France as privileged andfruitful; it is matched by equally satisfying results on many levels ofcooperation.France is one of Kenya’s major partners in the field of developmentthrough its agency Agence française de développement. Within the« framework document for partnership » which set, as our jointpriorities, projects in water and sanitation, in the development ofinfrastructures and in the environment, much has been achieved inrecent years. On-going projects in these areas are engaged, for a totalamount of nearly 730 M €. Kenya has implemented a uniquecomprehensive “National climate change response strategy”, to whichFrance has given broad support. I shall strive to pursue this specialpartnership, which could be set as an example for neighbouringcountries.As a matter of fact, it is my pleasure to convey to you that, should Kenyawish to consider such an option, my country would like to take thisprivileged dialogue one step further, for instance through theestablishment of a more formal framework for political dialogue. I am at

Your Excellency’s entire disposal to engage discussions with Kenyanauthorities in this respect.With regard to cultural and linguistic cooperation, « Alliance française “remains an active player in the Kenyan cultural scene, reaching outtowards Kenya’s youth, keen to learn French and to know more aboutFrance.As far as trade and economic relations are concerned, French investors,with almost 50 French firms present here, are active in Kenya. There ishowever room for more development. The “ Kenya days ” held in Paris inOctober testified to potential further benefits which can be gained onboth sides.Your Excellency, I will also represent my country to UNEP and UN-Habitat. For many years, France has been striving to improve thecoherence of our collective action in the environment field and has takeninitiatives to reinforce UNEP in Nairobi. I am looking forward to furtherdialogue with Kenya in this objective.

I have now the honour to present to your Excellency the Letter of Recallof my Predecessor and my Credentials by which His Excellency PresidentNicolas Sarkozy has appointed me to be the next AmbassadorExtraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of France to theRepublic of Kenya.