Mudavadi begins France visit with high-level talks

Prime CS Musalia Mudavadi in bilateral talks in Paris/X

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has kicked off an official visit to France with a series of high-level engagements.

The talks are aimed at sharpening Kenya’s diplomatic priorities ahead of the forthcoming Africa–France Summit.

Mudavadi said the visit began with focused, action-driven discussions involving Kenya’s diplomatic missions in Paris, bringing together teams from the Kenya Embassy in France and the country’s Permanent Delegation to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

The engagements were led by Ambassador Jane Lusenaka, the Deputy Ambassador and Chargé d’Affaires in Paris, and Ambassador Prof. Peter Ngure, Kenya’s Permanent Delegate to UNESCO.

According to Mudavadi, the talks centred on aligning priorities for the bilateral visit, refining key deliverables, and finalising critical actions in preparation for the Africa–France Summit.

The summit is expected to bring together African leaders and their French counterparts to discuss cooperation on development, security, climate action, and global governance.

“The discussions reinforced our collective resolve to move with clarity, coordination, and purpose in advancing Kenya’s strategic objectives on the global stage,” Mudavadi said in a statement.

The Prime CS, who also serves as Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, noted that France remains a key strategic partner for Kenya, particularly in areas such as trade, investment, education, culture, climate action, and multilateral diplomacy.

He said the Paris engagements were designed to ensure Kenya presents a clear and coherent agenda during the summit and related bilateral meetings.

Mudavadi’s visit comes at a time when Kenya is seeking to deepen its influence in international forums and position itself as a key regional voice on global issues, including peace and security, sustainable development, and climate financing.

Kenya has in recent years played an active role in multilateral diplomacy, including through its engagements at the United Nations and other international bodies.

The Africa–France Summit is expected to provide a platform for discussions on resetting Africa–Europe relations, enhancing economic cooperation, and addressing shared challenges such as climate change, security threats, and global economic instability.

Mudavadi is expected to hold additional meetings with French government officials, development partners, and representatives of international organisations during the visit.

The engagements are aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and reinforcing Kenya’s role as a reliable partner in regional and global affairs.

The Prime CS said the outcomes of the Paris engagements would inform Kenya’s approach to upcoming high-level meetings and ensure the country enters the Africa–France Summit with a unified strategy and clearly defined objectives.