Gov’t Finally Responds To Reports Of France Setting up Military Base In Kenya
Kenya has dismissed claims that France is planning to establish a military base in the country following a series of major defence and economic agreements signed between Nairobi and Paris.
Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’Oei has clarified that Kenya has not entered into any agreement allowing France to set up a military installation on Kenyan soil.
PS Sing’Oei was speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Wednesday night.
According to the PS, the arrangement currently in place between the two countries is strictly a Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) focused on collaboration, training, and security support.
“There is no agreement signed between Kenya and France for the establishment of a military base. What there is, is an agreement for military cooperation,” Sing’Oei stated during the interview.
PS Korir Sing’oei: There is no agreement signed between Kenya and France for the establishment of a military base. What there is, is an agreement for military cooperation #JKLive pic.twitter.com/ROjoXhFGiS
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) May 13, 2026
The clarification comes amid growing speculation online and heightened public interest surrounding the pending ratification of the DCA signed between Kenya and France in October last year.
The debate has also emerged against the backdrop of increasing scrutiny of France’s military footprint across Africa.
Particularly, in Anglophone countries where Paris has recently intensified diplomatic and security engagements.
Questions over the partnership intensified earlier this year after at least 800 French military personnel arrived in Kenya aboard three warships that docked at the Port of Mombasa.
The French contingent was deployed as part of a joint mission focused on military training, maritime security cooperation, and strengthening operational coordination between the French military and the Kenyan Defence Forces (KDF).
French Ambassador to Kenya Arnaud Suquet said at the time that the deployment reflected the growing strategic relationship between Nairobi and Paris, especially in efforts aimed at improving stability within the Indian Ocean region.
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Officials from the French Embassy further explained that the mission involved training exercises for young officers and cadets, with the personnel participating in real maritime operations alongside Kenyan security teams.
A key focus of the exercises has been cooperation with Kenya’s naval units responsible for protecting the coastline, maritime trade routes, and strategic infrastructure linked to the Port of Mombasa.
The latest developments come just days after Kenya and France signed several major agreements during the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi.
The two countries have deepened cooperation in infrastructure, renewable energy, transport, digital connectivity, climate action, and higher education.
France also pledged support for several flagship projects, including Nairobi commuter rail upgrades, expansion of logistics infrastructure connected to the Ports of Mombasa and Lamu, and technology partnerships.
Gov’t Finally Responds To Reports Of France Setting up Military Base In Kenya
