Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi speaking in a past event/ OPCS
Kenya and France have reaffirmed their commitment to deepen bilateral cooperation through youth innovation, education, scientific research and entrepreneurship as both countries seek to expand opportunities for young people and strengthen long-term development partnerships.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi said the partnership between the two countries has increasingly evolved beyond traditional diplomatic relations to focus on investing in human capital, technology and knowledge as drivers of economic transformation.
Speaking during the Kenya-France Youth Innovation Day at the University of Nairobi as part of celebrations marking France's National Day, commonly known as Bastille Day, Mudavadi said the event reflected a shared commitment to placing young people at the centre of bilateral cooperation.
"It is encouraging that Kenya and France have built a partnership that invests in human capital, including scientific research, technical and vocational training, entrepreneurship and cultural exchange. We are equipping young people with the requisite knowledge and skills to thrive in a technology-driven global economy," he said.
Mudavadi said Kenya's youthful population presents one of the country's greatest strengths, noting that nearly 80 per cent of Kenyans are aged 35 years and below.
He said the government's responsibility is to create an enabling environment that allows young people to innovate, seize emerging opportunities and realise their full potential.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary also commended ongoing collaboration between Kenya and France in advancing African languages, including Kiswahili, through artificial intelligence research.
He said the initiative demonstrates how innovation can preserve cultural heritage while opening new opportunities in the digital economy.
Mudavadi said cooperation between the two countries gained fresh momentum during the Africa Forward Summit, which Kenya and France co-hosted in Nairobi in May.
According to the Cabinet Secretary, the summit reaffirmed the two countries' shared commitment to promoting innovation, industrialisation and investment, with young people playing a central role in discussions on technology, digitalisation, the creative economy and employment.
He added that Presidents William Ruto and Emmanuel Macron announced the finalisation of the design contract and implementation arrangements for the Engineering and Science Complex at the University of Nairobi during the summit.
The facility, funded by the French Development Agency together with the governments of Kenya and France, is expected to strengthen the university's position as a leading centre for research, engineering and scientific innovation on the continent.
Mudavadi said hosting the Kenya-France Youth Innovation Day at the University of Nairobi reflected the institution's role as a centre of excellence in higher education, research and innovation.
He encouraged young innovators, entrepreneurs and students to view their ideas as solutions capable of addressing challenges beyond Kenya's borders.
"The opportunities before you extend far beyond national borders. Your ideas, your knowledge and your enterprises have the potential to solve challenges not only for Kenya, but for Africa and the world," he said.
Mudavadi also thanked French Ambassador to Kenya Arnaud Suquet for his role in expanding cooperation between the two countries, saying the partnership has increasingly embraced innovation, education and people-to-people exchanges alongside traditional areas of collaboration.
