Revealed: Details of French President Macron’s phone call to William Ruto
By Kevin CheruiyotFrance president Emmanuel Macron has placed a call on President-elect William Ruto to congratulatee him a day after the Supreme Court upheld his election win.
During the conversation, Dr Ruto and President Macron expressed their desire to deepen the Franco-Kenyan relationship, within the framework of the dynamic created by the visit of President Uhuru Kenyatta in 2019, and as a priority in the fields of infrastructure, agriculture and health.
President Macron also paid tribute to the stabilizing role of Kenya in its regional environment and insisted on France’s desire to continue the cooperation in progress within the framework of the United Nations Security Council and in support of the efforts of the African Union.
France and Kenya enjoy cordial ties for decades but the same was strengthened during President Kenyatta’s tenure.
In 2019, Mr Macron visited Nairobi and promised a greater partnership with Kenya in economic development as well as in its efforts to battle regional extremist violence.
The President-elect is still receiving congratulatory messages from the presidents and leaders across the world.
Also, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has conveyed his message of goodwill to Dr Ruto and Kenyans for holding a peaceful election.
Embassies and High Commissioners in Kenya have also expressed their gratitude to the people of Kenya for being peaceful during and after the election.
All the presidential candidates have conceded defeat and asked Kenyans to put their political differences aside and work together to build the nation.
In 2020, President Kenyatta made his official visit to France, where they signed three bilateral agreements.
Among the agreements reached is a public-private partnership (PPP) for the construction of the Nairobi-Nakuru-Mau Summit highway signed between KeNHA and Vinci Concessions. The highway is one of the largest PPP projects in Eastern Africa.
Others were agreements for the development of the Nairobi central business district (CBD) to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) commuter railway line and the 400kV Menengai-Rongai electricity transmission line.
Dr. Ruto will be sworn in as President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces on September 13, 2022.
Also read:
Envoys congratulate Ruto, laud Raila’s role in democracy
Magoha shares thoughts on working with President-elect William Ruto