French president pledges economic growth to Kenya

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday became the first president from his country to ever visit Kenya since the independence of the African nation.

Macron was received by his host Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta at a ceremony at State House Nairobi in the Kenyan capital.

"I am very happy and very proud to be here with you and with such a delegation, we are deeply committed to working together with Kenya on different topics, first security, counter-terrorism, and obviously the regional agenda," Macron said at a joint news conference with Kenyatta.

The two presidents also signed bilateral agreements to boost ties between their countries.

“We want to open a new partnership in the economy so we have just signed a series of agreements and we will tomorrow morning sign a series of new agreements in order to develop public and private partnerships,” the French president said.

Kenyatta, for his part, said France will build a railway to link Kenya’s largest airport with the Capital Central Business District.

“A properly functioning urban commuter rail system and Bus Rapid Transit System (BRT) in our cities and particularly here in Nairobi will completely transform the lives of millions of urban dwellers as well as make Nairobi a wonderful experience for tourists and visitors,” Kenyatta said.

Macron and Kenyatta are set to open the high-level segment of the United Nations Environment Assembly on Thursday.