Kenya's new military pact with France sparks outrage amid sovereignty concerns
via Tuko9 min read
Kenya's recently ratified military pact with France has ignited a fierce debate, with critics warning that the agreement risks undermining national sovereignty and granting foreign troops impunity. The deal, which offers French forces diplomatic privileges and legal protections, comes as several other African nations are expelling Western military presences. Activists and Mau Mau veterans have highlighted the unresolved 2012 killing of Agnes Wanjiru, allegedly by British soldiers, as a stark example of the dangers of granting immunity to foreign troops. James Njuguna, Director General of the Mau Mau War Veterans Association, expressed dismay, stating that the government appears to prioritize foreigners over its own citizens and that the new pact will lead to similar issues as those associated with the British Army Training Unit Kenya BATUK. He warned that this military alignment could drag Kenya into geopolitical conflicts and strain relationships with other African and Arab nations. As Nairobi prepares to host a France-Africa summit on May 11th and 12th, 2026, where President William Ruto is expected to finalize the deal, civil society groups are organizing a counter-summit to protest the agreement. France's interest in Kenya is seen as a strategic move to secure a foothold in Anglophone Africa after losing military bases in several Francophone countries.
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Must ReadVeteran Kenyan lawyer and politician Martha Karua was denied entry into Uganda and deported back to Kenya. She had traveled to Kampala as part of a legal team for detained opposition politician Kizza Besigye and Hajj Obeid Lutale, and to support the defense of former Kampala lord mayor Erias Lukwago. Karua stated that Ugandan authorities detained her upon arrival, confiscated her phones, and issued her with a persona non grata notice. Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Chief Justice David Maraga condemned the deportation. Kalonzo described the actions as deeply troubling and a violation of East African Community principles, including free movement and democratic engagement. Maraga argued that the move contradicted the spirit of the East African Community Treaty, emphasizing Karua's right to access her clients. This incident follows a similar deportation of Karua from Tanzania in May, where she was denied entry while attempting to observe court proceedings involving opposition leader Tundu Lissu.
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Must ReadKenyan lawyer Martha Karua has returned to Kenya after being denied entry into Uganda and declared persona non grata. Karua detailed that upon her arrival at Entebbe International Airport, Ugandan immigration officers confiscated her phones, closely monitored her movements, and later escorted her onto a return flight to Nairobi. She had traveled to Kampala to join the legal teams for high-profile court proceedings involving opposition figures Kizza Besigye, Hajj Obeid Lutale, and Kampala Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, who faces treason allegations. Karua stated that officers informed her of a note against her and, despite her request to wait in the Kenya Airways lounge, she was closely watched. She also mentioned that her phones were returned, but she declined to take them back due to concerns about tampering. The official letter declaring her persona non grata was handed to her while she was already on the flight back to Kenya. Ugandan immigration authorities have not yet publicly explained their decision.