Opposition leaders raise alarm over France-Kenya military pact

Kenyan opposition leaders and civil society groups have raised concerns over the government’s growing military partnerships with Western nations, warning that recent defence agreements could undermine Kenya’s sovereignty and weaken accountability for crimes committed by foreign troops on local soil.

The criticism follows the ratification of a new defence cooperation agreement between Kenya and France that will allow French military personnel to operate in the country, alongside existing British and American forces.

The agreement comes ahead of the France-Africa Summit set to be held in Nairobi on May 11 and 12, 2026, an event that has already attracted opposition from sections of civil society.

Human rights activist and 2027 presidential aspirant Boniface Mwangi said the immunity provisions within the France-Kenya agreement were particularly troubling, arguing that they shield foreign soldiers from local prosecution.

“By allowing foreign troops to avoid local jurisdiction for crimes committed against civilians, the government is prioritising international relations over the safety of citizens,” Mwangi said, adding that the arrangement violates the Constitution’s provisions on the supremacy of Kenyan law.

The debate has revived memories of the 2012 killing of Agnes Wanjiru in Nanyuki, a case linked to soldiers attached to the British Army Training Unit Kenya (BATUK).

Despite years of investigations and diplomatic engagements, no convictions have been secured, a situation critics say exposed loopholes in military cooperation agreements involving foreign forces.

Democratic Party (DP) leader Justin Muturi said Kenya must never allow foreign military personnel to operate beyond the reach of the country’s justice system.

“Our sovereignty must never permit a situation in which foreign personnel operate beyond the reach of our justice system, especially in cases involving grave crimes,” Muturi said.

Communist Party Marxist Kenya (CPM-K) chairperson Mwaivu Kaluka also called for greater transparency and parliamentary oversight in defence agreements involving foreign troops.

“These agreements should not weaken national sovereignty or the rule of law,” Kaluka said, while urging the government to ensure all foreign personnel accused of serious crimes remain fully subject to Kenyan law.

The leaders further warned that Kenya risks being viewed as a Western military outpost in Africa at a time when several West and Central African nations are cutting military ties with France. They argued that deeper alignment with Western powers could expose Kenya to geopolitical tensions and economic shocks arising from global conflicts.

The government, however, maintains that defence partnerships with foreign nations are critical in enhancing Kenya’s security capabilities through training, equipment support and counterterrorism cooperation.