Kenyan lawmakers approved a defense cooperation agreement with France that will grant Kenyan security forces "access to French training, technology, and expertise" and strengthen bilateral cooperation in domains that include maritime security, counterterrorism and disaster relief, the Daily Nation reported on April 12. The agreement includes visiting forces provisions and establishes a five-year framework that will be renewed automatically once, with a working group between the two countries due to meet every year to oversee the agreement's implementation.

French President Emmanuel Macron has sought to strengthen cooperation with Africa's non-francophone countries since taking office in 2017. French and Kenyan officials first signed the defense agreement in October 2025. Kenya will host the Africa-France summit on May 11-12.