France unperturbed by Kenya's ties with China

The French ambassador to Kenya has said his country is not worried about Kenya’s growing relations with China.

Ambassador Etienne du Poncins told the Nation on Friday that France will not be “preoccupied” with the rise of Chinese influence because it is for the good of Kenya.

““We are absolutely not in the spirit to criticise or to be worried about that. Even on the contrary, we would like to welcome new partners because they are here to provide assistance.

“It would be the most important thing Kenya gets. It is better for Kenyans,” he said in an interview.

The envoy argued that whereas the levels of interaction between the European Union (EU), which France is a member, and Far East Countries like China are different, Kenya would be at an advantage to gain more from both sides.

“I think it is very good that there are some new partners who are now committed to provide support, to provide assistance and to create good condition in Kenya," said the Ambassador.

The envoy spoke to the Nation ahead of a visit by the French Director-General for Africa Affairs Elisabeth Barbier.

According to the French embassy, her itinerary would include to “to identify areas where we could go as a partnership” between the Kenya and France.

Ms Barbier is , herself a former French ambassador to Kenya. She is expected to hold talks with Prime Minister Raila Odinga on how they can review a declaration Kenya signed with France last year in April.

France and other Western diplomats from EU member countries recently complained that President Kibaki was giving them an arms-length treatment and further that they had had their appointments turned down.

In an apparent reference to Kenya’ shift towards the East, the diplomats led by Mr Poncins complained that President Kibaki was unreachable.

But Mr Kibaki responded by saying he had given all diplomats equal time depending on the changing trends of the world.

“The president’s diplomatic policy has been guided by Kenya’s present view of changing geo-political dynamics. This entails an understanding of the West and East confluence on world affairs in an ever changing environment,” said a dispatch from State House.

On Friday, the French envoy said there had been “a lot of misunderstanding about the matter” but added that the failure of the meeting to occur would “not change anything” because they had managed to meet other top government officials.

“The reality is that between the EU and developing countries, there is this request to have, from time to time, on a regular basis a political dialogue about development and so on.

“That is why the EU delegation on behalf of EU member states including France has written to the president requesting to hold such a sitting to engage in that dialogue.”

China has recently emerged to be Kenya’s key economic allies, with the former contributing significantly to Kenya's foreign aid.

The French Ambassador insisted his country will neither be changing its policies nor compete with China because they have different policies.

“The assistance we provide is untied. That means that we do not ask for French companies to provide the equipment for projects we sponsor. There is no condition for French companies to be part of the tender.

“The reason we do that is because it is cheaper for Kenya; it can have better prices. Sometimes Chinese companies win the international tenders which are part of the French AFD loans.

“It is generous for the French; it was a political decision to untie its financial development support. It is a policy adopted all over the world. It is true that the Chinese are cheaper and if they can provide good quality work, then they are welcome,” he said.