Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi movement is the latest to enlist a foreign lobbyist to court the United States and boost its 2027 prospects.
Paul Lwali, an American citizen, has registered with the US Department of Justice as Linda Mwananchi’s lobbyist to coordinate visits by its top politicians.
Documents filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) indicate that Mr Lwali will also promote campaign fundraising. Mr Sifuna has named him the movement’s US fundraising director.
The US and other Western nations have long played roles in Kenyan elections.
Photo credit: Nation Media Group
The filing, made on August 16, comes as Mr Sifuna’s team plans to visit the US to woo the Kenyan diaspora. Linda Mwananchi spokesperson and Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, who returned from the US on Thursday, told the Daily Nation the movement’s message had been “received well in various European capitals.”
Beyond Washington’s goodwill, the diaspora is also coveted for campaign funds. The US is home to one of the largest populations of Kenyans abroad, with estimated remittances of Sh650 billion in 2023, according to the Central Bank of Kenya.
President William Ruto’s administration, businessman and Safina party leader Jimmy Wanjigi, and Jubilee deputy party leader Fred Matiang’i are among 2027 presidential contenders to have contracted US firms to enhance their political images and cultivate ties with President Donald Trump’s administration.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s administration also engaged US firms at least three times, including during his 2017 re-election bid.
The US and other Western nations have long played roles in Kenyan elections. Candidates have also used US lobbyists to fundraise and mobilise support. Western endorsement is often viewed as a political boost.
That helps explain why the “choices have consequences” remark by then US President Barack Obama’s special envoy to Africa, Johnnie Carson, carried weight during the 2013 presidential contest. The US was uncomfortable with the candidacies of Mr Kenyatta and Dr Ruto, who were then facing crimes-against-humanity charges at the International Criminal Court (ICC). They were later cleared.
Prof David Monda, a US-based political analyst, says deep US alliances raise 2027 contenders’ profiles in Kenya and abroad.
He says approval of an election and endorsement of its winner would be a major political and diplomatic asset for the president-elect.
Connections in the US, he adds, could help Mr Sifuna project himself as a credible alternative to President Ruto and deepen engagement with Washington.
DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua addresses the media at the party’s offices in Nairobi on August 11, 2026.
Photo credit: Francis Nderitu | Nation Media Group
“Numerous US and Western corporations have major billion-dollar investments in Kenya. It’s in their interest to see a stable, friendly Kenya as an ally of the US or West,” observes Prof Monda.
Mr Lwali has also registered Linda Mwananchi Diaspora USA Chapter (LMD USA) on behalf of Mr Sifuna’s movement.
Lobbying firms run by close associates of President Trump have become attractive to both President Ruto and opposition leaders, who believe close ties with the US could have a bearing on the country’s 2027 contest.
Some of the 2027 contenders are pulling out all the stops, including digging deep into their pockets to have the blessings of Washington ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Mr Wanjigi contracted Arsenal Government and Public Affairs Group, run by lobbyist Christopher John Neiweem, in an effort to reach out to President Trump in a deal entered into on January 17, 2025.
The firm has also been contracted by South Sudan’s opposition figures in an attempt to woo the Trump administration.
According to the documents, the firm engages in presidential-focused public affairs campaigns for a flat fee of $525,000 (Sh67, 940,250) every six months. The figure is subject to adjustment or extension upon mutual agreement between the parties, the agreement states.
The document states that the firm traditionally works on 12-month contracts, but agreed to begin with six months as “much discovery related to this campaign will be made quickly and we will develop a political plan culminating with a relationship between Wanjigi and President Trump.”
Safina Party Leader Jimi Wanjigi during an interview at his Kwacha House offices in Nairobi on October 8, 2025.
Photo credit: Evans Habil | Nation Media Group
“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 US government interests (example not support China economically and work with US),” the document states.
It adds, “My role is to work with lawmakers, the new administration, and potentially seek media interview opportunities to express the economic and political policy positions of Wanjigi to seek support for his run for office in his home country.”
Dr Matiang’i, who has declared an interest in running for the 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 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 favour of Fred Matiang’i’s becoming the elected president of Kenya through means of lobbying, public relations and economic development activities.’
“Within the United States, Registrant (firm) proposes to lobby the executive and/or legislative branches of the government of the United States and its agencies to support the efforts of Fred Matiang’i to become President of Kenya.”
Similarly, President Ruto’s administration contracted Continental Strategy, run by Carlos Trujillo, a close ally of President Trump, in an attempt to patch up ties with the US. The Kenya Kwanza administration was to spend Sh271 million annually in the deal formalised on August 6, 2025.
“The Client (Kenya) shall pay the firm the amount of $175,000 (Sh22,600,157) on a monthly basis (the “Monthly Retainer”) for a 12-month period. The first monthly retainer shall be due upon the effective date of this agreement and is due monthly thereafter.”
The move by President Ruto to engage the firm came in the backdrop of a proposal by US Senator Jim Risch, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, for changes to the US National Defence Authorisation Act for the 2026 financial year, in which he wanted 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 between Kenya and the Republic of China, with a sharp focus on any participation in the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as bilateral debt and commercial ties.
The US has consistently been against China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) over fears of it eroding its global influence. The desire to curry favour with Washington among Kenyan politicians is also fuelled by the geopolitical power struggle between the US and China in the emerging multipolar world order.
The Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi , in a recent disclosure, said all previous governments, including those of the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, the late Daniel arap Moi, the late Mwai Kibaki and retired President Uhuru Kenyatta , have engaged US and UK lobbyists to leverage their expertise.
He disclosed that between 1978 and 2001, the government of the day worked with more than 10 US-based public affairs and lobbying firms.
In 2021, Mr Kenyatta’s administration contracted Rational PR LLC at a cost of $600,000 (Sh77,700,000) to assist Kenya in relationship-building with government and non-government officials, as well as communications counsel and management services.
President William Ruto (left) and US President Donald Trump.
Photo credit: Pool
A similar deal was signed by the Jubilee administration with Sonoran Policy Group at a fee of $300,000 (Sh38,850,000) in 2019. The brief was for the firm to deepen relations between Kenya and the US government.
Kibaki’s administration also entered into similar contracts, including one with Moffet Group in 2009 and 2010.
The 2009 deal involved advising the President on “US policies of concern; and pending relevant activity in Congress, maintaining contact, if necessary, with members of Congress and their staff, executive branch officials, multilateral institutions and non-governmental organisations.”
In the 2017 presidential race, the late Prime Minister Raila 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 States’ government best interests to ensure a free, fair, transparent and peaceful election process.’
In March that year, the firm assisted Mr Odinga in arranging meetings in Washington, DC. The meeting was attended by Mr Odinga and his delegation from Kenya. The firm advised Mr Odinga on the need for a united opposition in facing then President Kenyatta at the ballot. The lobbying firm gave an example of how it assisted the opposition coalition in Gambia to sweep to power, the documents filed with FARA state.
In the same election, the National Super Alliance (Nasa), the coalition that fronted Mr Odinga as its presidential candidate, also contracted Aristotle International, a US firm, to assist in ‘fundraising and representational activities’ for the coalition in the United States.
