MPs are advocating for extended visa validity periods for citizens traveling to France, stating that this will improve trade, investment, and defense cooperation between the two nations.
The proposal was made during a meeting of the National Assembly’s Defence, Intelligence, and Foreign Relations Committee with a team from the French National Assembly in Kenya for the Africa Summit.
The Kenyan delegation said the current short-term visa arrangements could limit the growing engagements expected after the recent signing of a Defence Cooperation Agreement (DCA) between Kenya and France.
The agreement is expected to deepen collaboration in defence and security matters while opening up opportunities for increased diplomatic and economic exchanges.
“You need to ensure that our visas do not expire after one month, as the Defence Cooperation Agreement that we signed recently has created an avenue for more interactions between Kenya and France,” said Bashir.
Defence Pact Opens Door for Greater Engagement
The French delegation was led by the Chairperson of the Foreign Affairs Committee in the French National Assembly, with discussions focusing on ways to strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Lawmakers argued that extending visa validity for Kenyans travelling to France would ease movement for business people, government officials, investors, and professionals seeking to engage more frequently with French institutions and companies.
Calls for stronger economic cooperation also featured prominently during the talks.
Anne Muratha urged French investors and firms to expand their presence in Kenya, saying the country’s youthful population presented significant economic potential.
“With the signing of the DCA, we are forming a stronger relationship than we ever had. We have a large number of hardworking youth who are unemployed, and I would want to encourage you to invest heavily here and open up job opportunities to our young people,” she said.
Kenya Highlights Regional Investment Opportunities
The discussions also touched on regional integration within the East African Community (EAC) and the opportunities it presents for foreign investors.
Joshua Kandie told the French delegation that EAC member states continue to enjoy strong economic cooperation, supported by policies that allow citizens to travel freely across member countries without visas.
He noted that European investors looking to establish operations in Kenya could also benefit from access to the wider East African market.
The meeting highlighted Kenya’s growing diplomatic and economic relationship with France, particularly following the defence agreement signed earlier this year.
Leaders from both sides expressed optimism that stronger cooperation in defence, trade, investment, and people-to-people exchanges would deliver long-term benefits for citizens in both countries.
The push for extended visa validity now adds a new dimension to Kenya-France relations, with lawmakers positioning easier travel as a key step toward unlocking deeper economic and strategic partnerships.
