Kenya and France are intensifying preparations for the Africa Forward Summit (AFS) 2026, positioning the gathering as a major shift in how Africa and France engage from traditional development cooperation to a partnership driven by innovation, investment and shared implementation.

The Summit, scheduled for May 11–12 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre, is expected to attract between 1,500 and 2,000 global CEOs and business leaders, making it one of the largest Africa–Europe investment convenings in recent years.

Organisers say the Summit is designed as a deal-making platform, focusing on unlocking investment across artificial intelligence and digital transformation, renewable and nuclear energy, health manufacturing, infrastructure and transport systems, agriculture and food systems, as well as creative and cultural industries. Sports is also being promoted as an emerging area for investment and job creation.

Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Korir Sing’Oei, said the Summit seeks to move beyond old stereotypes that have shaped Africa–France relations, and instead build a framework based on mutual respect, shared opportunity and practical results.

He made the remarks during a high-level engagement with the Kenya Editors Guild, where officials also highlighted the importance of the media in ensuring accountability, shaping public understanding and supporting evidence-based reporting on the Summit’s expected outcomes and investment pipeline.

France’s Ambassador to Kenya, Arnaud Suquet, said French investment in Kenya has grown steadily over the past decade, with more than 140 French companies operating in the country. He estimated total investment at around €1.8 billion, mainly in energy, infrastructure and services, adding that France remains a leading bilateral partner in Kenya’s energy sector and its fourth-largest foreign direct investor.

Officials say the Summit reflects broader global trends around climate action, digital transformation and sustainable development, which are opening new opportunities for Africa–France cooperation.

A key feature of AFS 2026 is the strong role of the private sector. Officials stressed that governments alone cannot deliver the scale of economic transformation required, making private capital central to turning commitments into real projects.

Beyond the main Summit, a series of high-level events will take place in Nairobi. These include the Africa Forward Literary Festival on May 8, a Civil Society Forum on May 10, and a Youth & Innovation Engagement on May 11. The same day will also feature high-level discussions on creative industries and sports, most of them hosted at the University of Nairobi.

The programme will conclude with a major cultural diplomacy event, “Africa Forward Le Concert,” at the Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, featuring artists including Youssou N’Dour, Fally Ipupa, Yemi Alade, Nomcebo Zikode, Savara and Jose Chameleone.

Supported by the African Union, the Summit is the first Africa–France convening of its kind hosted in Anglophone Africa. It represents a structural shift from a donor, recipient model to a partnership based on parity, innovation and shared implementation.

Organisers expect the Summit to produce a Nairobi Declaration and a set of action-oriented deliverables. Some of the outcomes are also expected to inform discussions at the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, in June, where Kenya will participate.

Ultimately, the success of the Summit will be measured by whether it can turn its political commitments into concrete investments, partnerships and projects on the ground.