President William Ruto ’s administration has defended its Sh271 million splurged on American spin firms to boost ties with President Donald Trump, describing it as part of Nairobi’s foreign policy strategy in pursuing its national interests.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi disclosed how it has become a tradition for countries to unleash billions hiring US lobbying firms to compete for visibility in Washington.
Mr Mudavadi proceeded to provide a list of contracts running into billions of shillings signed by the current and previous administrations, as well as those entered by political leaders and political parties, including veteran politician Raila Odinga, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, businessman Jimmy Wanjigi, Migori Senator Eddy Oketch and the National Super Alliance, an opposition coalition in the 2017 presidential election.
He said it was not the first time the Kenyan government was seeking the services of a lobbying firm to advance its country’s foreign policy priorities.
The Foreign Affairs Ministry said all previous governments since 1964, including the Late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, the Late Mzee Daniel Arap Moi, the Late Mwai Kibaki and the retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, have engaged US and the United Kingdom (UK) lobbyists to leverage their expertise.
Mr Mudavadi disclosed that between 1978 and 2001, the government of the day worked with more than 10 US-based public affairs and lobbying firms.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
From 2002 to 2011, he said, about five such firms were engaged, while between 2012 and 2021, another five firms were similarly contracted.
In 2021, Mr Kenyatta’s administration contracted Rational PR, LLC at a cost of $600,000 (Sh77,682,000) to assist Kenya in relationship building with government and non-governmental officials, and communications counsel and management services.
In 2019, Mr Kenyatta’s administration also contracted Sonoran Policy Group at a fee of $300,000 to act as its commercial sector adviser as well as to deepen relations between Kenya and the US government. The Jubilee administration entered another similar engagement with Sonoran Policy Group in 2017 at a fee of $300,000. Kenya Tourism Board had also in 2018 contracted Myriad International to implement its marketing strategy.
In Kibaki’s administration, Kenya entered a contract with Moffett Group in 2010 to consulting services at a cost of $464,000 (Sh60 million).
Another contract with the firm was also entered in 2009 to counsel the President on ‘US policies of concern; and pending relevant activity in Congress, maintain contact, if necessary, with members of Congress and their staff, executive branch officials, multilateral institutions and non-governmental organizations.’
Kibaki’s administration also entered into another contract with CLS Strategies at a cost of $1,695,200 (approximately Sh219 million) to conduct research and analyze issues of concern to the President.
The firm was also to “counsel the principal on US policies of concern; and pending relevant activity in Congress, maintain contact, if necessary, with members of Congress and their staff, executive branch officials, multilateral institutions and non-governmental organizations.”
Currently, Mr Mudavadi said, a total of 17 countries worldwide, including at least five African countries, have signed lobbying contracts with American firms worth more than $21million (Sh2.7 billion) since November 2024 until end of 2025.
“It is important to underscore that such partnerships with lobbying firms are a standard and legitimate practice by governments worldwide, undertaken to advance their foreign policy, trade, investment, and security interests in Washington, D.C., where competition for visibility and influence is intense, complex, and highly structured,” explained Mr Mudavadi.
Mr Mudavadi said the engagements with the firms are guided by Kenya’s national interests, and are undertaken in full adherence to the Kenyan laws.
Keeping bilateral relations
He explained that the decision to contract the lobbying firms is aimed at strengthening Kenya’s bilateral relations, safeguarding its national interests as well as promoting tourism and trade.
Such engagements, he added, are also designed to amplify Kenya’s voice on priority issues, including climate finance, security cooperation, and investment promotion.
“Kenya has a significant Diaspora community in the United States, creating the need to position our country to offer better services and increase employment opportunities, and to enhance productive mobility, especially of our youth.”
In the latest deal signed on August 8, 2025, Kenya has contracted Continental Strategy LLC at a monthly fee of $175,000.00 (Sh22,610,000) for 12 months. This translates to Sh271 million annually.
According to Mr Mudavadi, the firm run by run by Carlos Trujillo , a close ally of President Trump, will assist Kenya in ‘lobbying, preparing and disseminating informational materials, and engaging with us policy makers.’
“In particular, the government focuses on two critical areas in the recent engagement with the lobby firm. First, to accelerate conversations around the trade agenda, especially the best possible outcomes for Kenya’s trade with the U.S in the post-AGOA era.
Second, to buttress and broaden the support for the Multinational Security Support Mission in Haiti, where Kenya is the lead nation for the peace initiative,”
The move by President Ruto to engage the firm comes in the backdrop of a proposal by Senator Jim Risch , who also chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for changes to the US National Defence Authorisation Act for the 2026 financial year, in which he wants Congress to order a review of Kenya’s Major Non-Nato Ally (MNNA) status.
Senator Risch also sought to have the US investigate the trade and investment relationship of Kenya with the Republic of China, with sharp focus on any participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and bilateral debt and commercial ties. The US has been against China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) over fears of eroding its global influence.
Mr Wanjigi has contracted the Arsenal Government and Public Affairs Group, run by lobbyist Christopher John Neiweem, in an effort to reach out to President Trump in a deal made on 17 January 2025.
The firm has also been contracted by opposition figures in South Sudan in an attempt to win over the Trump administration.
According to the documents, the firm engages in presidential-focused public affairs campaigns for a flat fee of $525,000 (Sh67.97 million) every six months. This figure is subject to adjustment or extension by mutual agreement between the parties.
“Mr. Wanjigi is a former elected official in Kenya and is interested in pursuing a run for President of Kenya, my role would be to market his policy positions to American policy makers to encourage their support for his run for office. As well as discuss how Kenyan Policies can support U.S. government interests (for example, not support China economically and work with U.S.),” the document states.
Dr Matiang’i who has also declared interest to run for presidency has also contracted Dickens & Madson Canada Inc to assist him in sprucing up his political image ahead of the polls.
In the agreement signed in July 2024, Dr Matiang’i already paid Sh8.4 million ($65,000) and was expected to make an additional payment of Sh32.3 million ($250,000).
“Our lobbying services shall consist of maintaining such contacts with the executive and/or the legislative branches of the aforesaid government or governments and international agencies and in consultation with us, deem advisable in order to urge the institution and/or maintenance of legislative and/or executive policies favourable to you, and the elimination or prevention of such policies and opinions unfavourable to you,” states the agreement.
In the deal, the firm committed to attempt to ‘influence United States policy in favor of Fred Matiang'i's becoming the elected president of Kenya through means of lobbying, public relations and economic development activities.’
In his 2017 presidential run, Mr Odinga contracted Vanguard Africa, a pro-democracy Non-Governmental Organisation, to raise awareness about the general election, including ‘the pivotal importance that Kenya plays in East Africa and why it is in the United State's government best interests to ensure a free, fair, transparent and peaceful election process.’
In the month of March that year, the firm assisted Mr Odinga to arrange for meetings in Washington, DC. The meetings were attended by Mr Odinga and his delegation from Kenya, the document states.
“During this time we spoke with U.S. government officials, congressional staff members and relevant leaders from international NGOs to begin raising awareness about the need for credible elections in Kenya this August, including why a peaceful and fair election is in the United States' best interest.”
The firm advised Mr Odinga on the need for a united opposition in facing President Kenyatta on the ballot. The firm gave an example of how it assisted the opposition coalition in Gambia to sweep to power.
“We feel that this model of success can be replicated in Kenya…Based on our analysis of the prevailing situation in Kenya, and taking stock of the many lessons learned in the recent Gambian elections, we feel that a cohesive opposition coalition provides you the best opportunity to both win at the polls and advance your legacy as a transcendent leader on the African continent,” the firm stated.
In the same election, the National Super Alliance, the coalition that fronted Mr Odinga for presidency, also contracted Aristotle International, a US firm, to assist in “fundraising and representational activities for NASA in the United States.”
“Encourage selected individuals to provide financial support for NASA's campaign efforts by sending funds directly to non-US NASA accounts; seek to enlist United States Government support for a fair and transparent election process in Kenya through meetings/phone calls, and emails to and with Members of Congress, Congressional staff, and State Department officials,” part of the agreement stated.
Senator Oketch had also in 2022 contracted Vanguard Africa to highlight the importance of his senate campaign, as well as to boost his profile due to the ‘personal threats and intimidation he received during the course of his campaign in Migori County.’
