Joe Nyutu warns govt over hidden clauses and pressure over foreign aid
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, May 13, 2026Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has warned of the country’s increasing dependency on foreign partnerships, claiming that bilateral treaties and foreign aid have, at times, come with strings attached that are not made public.
In his comments in an interview on a local TV station on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, Nyutu said that foreign cooperation is often touted as development-focused but, in some instances, could affect policy direction at home that contradicts “local values” and the constitution.
“When Kenya receives aid or signs agreements with foreign nations, there are often strings attached. Sometimes these are not explicit on paper, but they exist behind the scenes, for example, pressures to recognise LGBTQ+ rights, which negate our African values,” Nyutu said.
He also noted the growing pressure from the outside on social and governance matters, noting that Kenya should be vigilant in safeguarding its sovereignty in entering into such agreements.
The senator argued that Kenya needed to reflect on the ramifications of donor-funded programmes and treaty commitments to see how they fit into its national interests and cultural background.
Kenya-France treaties
The senator’s statement follows the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi, which saw Kenya awarded a fresh round of financial cooperation pledges alongside the signing of 11 bilateral treaties between Kenya and France.
The terms of the deal reportedly included infrastructure development, climate action, trade cooperation, exchange of education, and digital transformation, along with a financial package that was not specifically specified in the public statement but reportedly included assistance for development programmes.
On Sunday, May 10, 2026, President William Ruto and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron signed 11 bilateral agreements aimed at strengthening diplomatic, economic, infrastructural, and technological cooperation between Kenya and France.
The agreements were signed during talks held at the State House following Macron’s arrival in Kenya for the Africa Forward Summit.
In a statement issued via social media after the meeting, President Ruto said Kenya and France have maintained strong diplomatic relations since 1963 and continue to deepen cooperation in areas of shared strategic interest.
“Kenya and France have maintained strong diplomatic relations since 1963. We continue to deepen this partnership in areas of shared interest for the benefit of the people of both nations,” Ruto stated.
The 11 agreements signed between the two countries span several major sectors, including transport infrastructure, energy, agriculture, aviation, digital transformation, and the blue economy.
Among the flagship projects announced is the modernisation of the Nairobi Central Station to the Embakasi Rail Line 5 project, expected to improve urban transport connectivity within the capital.