'Total lack of respect'! Angry Macron scolds Nairobi Summit attendes over noise

The incident occurred during a panel discussion at a side event attended by President William Ruto and Macron, where the two leaders engaged young people on technology, education reforms, innovation and Africa’s digital future.

As noise levels in the auditorium rose while a speaker was addressing the audience, Macron walked to the stage, took the microphone and addressed the audience, expressing frustration over the interruption.

"Excuse me, everybody. Hey, hey, hey!" a visibly frustrated Macron called out. 

“I’m sorry guys, but it’s impossible to speak about culture to have people like that super inspired coming here, making a speech with such a noise.”

The French President described the disruption as disrespectful and urged attendees holding side conversations to step outside the venue.

“This is a total lack of respect! "Macron admonished.

“So I suggest if you want to have bilaterals or speak about somebody else, I mean something else, you have bilateral rooms or you go outside. If you want to stay here, we listen to the people and we’re playing the same game, okay? Thank you.”

The hall fell silent following the remarks, with sections of the audience applauding as Macron handed back the microphone.

“And this, ladies and gentlemen, is cold leadership,” a moderator remarked afterward.

Emmanuel Macron is in Kenya for the Africa Forward Summit, a two-day meeting being co-hosted by William Ruto and France on May 11 and 12.

The summit has been billed as a major platform aimed at reshaping relations between Africa and France while strengthening cooperation on economic development, innovation, investment and global governance.

The summit has brought together African Heads of State, representatives of the African Union, international financial institutions, development partners, investors, business leaders, innovators and creatives.

More than 1,500 economic and institutional leaders from Africa and France are expected to attend the summit.

The forum will focus on showcasing Africa’s innovation capacity and advancing solutions to emerging challenges facing the continent and the world.

Speaking at the forum, President Ruto defended Kenya’s Competency-Based Education (CBE) reforms, saying they are aimed at preparing learners for a rapidly evolving global labour market driven by technology and artificial intelligence.

“The previous education system was about how much you could remember, memorise and regurgitate,” Ruto said.

The President noted that the reforms are designed to align education with current labour market demands, particularly through a strong emphasis on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).

Ruto also highlighted Kenya’s investments in digital infrastructure, including the laying of 30,000 kilometres of fibre optic cable, saying the country is positioning itself as a continental innovation hub.

Macron, speaking at the same forum, commended Kenya’s digital transformation efforts and urged African countries to invest in computing capacity, energy generation and AI infrastructure.

He also spoke on the historic nature of the event, seeing that it was the first time France was co-chairing the event alongside an English-speaking country.

"We wish to build partnerships on an equal footing, founded on shared interests and tangible results,” Macron said.

“The Africa Forward Summit will be a significant milestone in that endeavour. For the first time, France and an English-speaking African country will co-chair this event, symbolising an open and future-focused relationship.”

The youth forum formed part of activities under the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, which has brought together dozens of Heads of State, policymakers, entrepreneurs and young innovators from across the continent.