Kenya mulls diplomatic-style immunities for French troops under new defense deal

By Andrew Wasike

NAIROBI, Kenya (AA) - Kenya has opened a public review process for a proposed defense cooperation agreement with France that would grant French military personnel diplomatic-style privileges and immunities.

The National Assembly said the agreement has been formally tabled and referred to its Departmental Committee on Defense, triggering a constitutionally mandated public participation process before lawmakers debate and vote on the deal.

The proposed agreement sets out the legal framework governing the presence, activities and protections of visiting forces from either country while operating on official duties, according to a statement issued by Samuel Njoroge, clerk of the National Assembly.

Under the agreement, Kenya and France would be required to accord visiting forces “certain privileges, immunities and logistical assistance, and ensure that defense cooperation activities are implemented in compliance with their respective laws, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” the statement added.

Lawmakers said the aim is to provide clarity on how foreign troops operate on Kenyan soil and which legal arrangements apply during bilateral defense engagements.

The pact, which aims to broadly boost bilateral cooperation on defense and security, also proposes expanded collaboration in areas including military training, capacity building, information sharing and joint exercises.