President Uhuru Kenyatta has congratulated his France counterpart Emmanuel Macron following his re-election for a second term in office on Sunday.
President Macron, 44, defeated his far-right rival Marie Le Pen by garnering 58.2 per cent of the popular vote against her 41.8 per cent in the Sunday runoff election.
Uhuru termed Macron’s comfortable win as an affirmation of the confidence the people of France have in his stewardship of the country.
“Hearty congratulations Your Excellency and Dear Brother on your re-election for a second term. Your win is an affirmation of the high confidence your fellow countrymen and women have in your leadership,” President Kenyatta wrote in his congratulatory message shared by State House on Tuesday.
He assured President Macron of Kenya’s commitment to continue working with France for the common good and prosperity of the two countries, and wished him a successful tenure.
“Your Excellency, Kenya remains steadfast in its commitment to continue working with your administration for the progress of the people of our two nations. As you settle into your second term in office, I wish you good health and success as you steer your beloved country to new heights of prosperity,” President Kenyatta said.
France is one of Kenya’s leading development partners with a growing portfolio of bilateral support in key sectors such as infrastructure, commerce, agriculture and health among others. In infrastructure, the French private sector is financing the construction of the 233-kilometre Rironi-Mai Mahiu-Mau Summit dual carriageway, the largest Private Public Partnership road project in Africa.
Ties between the two countries have intensified during the two leaders’ tenure, with exchange of state visits, teh highest level of diplomatic engagements.
During President Kenyatta’s visit to France in October 2020, Nairobi and Paris signed four financing agreements worth 142 million euros in support to health emergency response, the opening up of rural areas, public transport and access to water and sanitation for Kenya.
Other agreements included the PPP for the construction of the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit highway signed between KeNHA and Vinci Concessions, the deal for the development of the Nairobi central business district to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport commuter railway line and the 400kV Menengai-Rongai electricity transmission line.
