French Ambassador Etienne de Poncins on Friday said Kenyans have a right to elect a president of their choice, but expounded that the electorate should not to expose the country to undue consequences. Jubilee coalition's presidential candidate Uhuru Kenyatta and his running mate William Ruto are facing charges of crimes against humanity following the post election violence of 2007/8.

"It is Kenyans who will decide its leaders but those decisions have consequences... the position of France is clear that we only have essential contact with people who are indicted by the ICC," he said.

The envoy spoke during opening of new Milimani Branch of Alliance Francaise de Kisumu. The French government’s stand comes as the third foreign voice after United Kingdom and The United States of America said it won’t be business as usual if Kenyans have a president who is facing crime against humanity charges.

Former US ambassador to Kenya Johny Carson said on the upcoming elections that good choices must be made. He said that Kenyans must know that individuals have reputation and images built through their history and must be careful against making choices that might impact negatively on the economy of the nation and the region.

France and other European Union countries are major budget donors, with significant economic investments especially in energy, water and sanitation. It’s involvement in the Kenyan economy is through development agencies, NGOs and other partners with analysts estimating that France invests Sh240 billion into the economy.

For instance, in 2010, Kenya Electricity Generating Company (KenGen), Kenya's main power producer, received a $364 Million loan from European Investment Bank and French Development Agency (AFD).Under the agreement, AFD loaned KenGen roughly US$201.3 million (Sh17 billion) to finance construction of the 140-megawatt Olkaria IV geothermal power plant.

Kenya is an emerging regional power and is electoral concern and stability is of great concern to France in East Africa. Mutual relations between the two countries are its best and France also gave logistical support to Kenyan forces pursuing Islamist militants across the border in Somalia.

France is actively involved in tackling several major political, social economic transformations in the continent through promoting democracy, human rights and rule of law. French forces intervened during 2011 ivory coast leadership crisis and supported Chad's President Idriss Deby as his army battled rebels in 2008.Only last week French President Francois Hollande made a triumphant visit to Mali, in diplomatic intervention that stands out among the hallmarks his presidency.