Five human rights defenders, including several foreign nationals, were arrested in Nairobi’s Central Business District after holding demonstrations against the Africa Forward Summit taking place in the city.
The group was protesting what they described as France’s growing political and economic influence in Africa, especially in East Africa, and called on President William Ruto to review Kenya’s ties with Paris.
The activists marched along Uhuru Highway while chanting slogans against France and carrying messages criticizing what they called modern-day imperialism.
Their protest attracted attention from members of the public and security officers as they moved toward the GPO roundabout in the busy city center.
Police officers later intercepted the demonstrators and used teargas to disperse the group before making arrests. The protest briefly caused disruption in the area as pedestrians and motorists tried to avoid the scene.
The human rights defenders said they were concerned about what they see as France’s increasing interest in East Africa. According to them, the same pattern of involvement has already been seen in parts of West Africa, where they claim it has contributed to political instability, poverty, and long-term economic struggles.
They argued that Kenya should be careful when entering bilateral agreements with France, warning that such deals could leave the country at a disadvantage in the future.
The protesters urged President Ruto to revoke agreements signed between Kenya and France and instead focus on partnerships that directly benefit ordinary citizens.
One of the voices during the demonstration questioned France’s intentions in the region, saying that if the country was truly interested in genuine development, the results would already be visible in places where it has had influence for many years.
Vijay Prashad, Executive Director of the Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, strongly criticized France’s historical and current role in Africa.
He pointed to countries such as Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, and Libya as examples of what he described as the harmful effects of French imperialism.
He said France’s legacy in Africa should not only be viewed as a matter of colonial history but also as an issue that continues today in the 21st century. According to him, the struggles seen in the Sahel region are part of that continued influence.
The arrests have added more attention to the ongoing Africa Forward Summit, where leaders and international partners are meeting to discuss Africa’s future and global partnerships.
