Mudavadi defends Kenya's US lobbying deal amid criticism

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. [File, Standard] Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi has defended Kenya's decision to enter into a contract with a US lobbying firm. In a statement on Thursday, August 28, Mudavadi said the move is a strategic investment aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and promoting tourism and trade. The government rejected media reports suggesting the lobbying deal was improper, calling the allegations inaccurate and misleading. "Partnerships with lobbying firms are a standard and legitimate practice by governments worldwide. They are undertaken to advance foreign policy, trade, investment and security interests in Washington, DC, where competition for visibility is intense and highly structured," explained Mudavadi. The engagement follows Kenyan law and the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Mudavadi noted that all contracts and their terms are transparent and publicly available. "Just as one media outlet accessed these records to create a headline story, any other interested organisation can freely obtain the same documents," he said. Kenya's engagement focuses on two main areas: accelerating trade discussions with the US in the post-African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) era and broadening support for the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSSM) in Haiti, where Kenya leads the peace initiative. Mudavadi also highlighted that previous governments since independence in 1964, including those of the late President Jomo Kenyatta, the late President Daniel Arap Moi, President Mwai Kibaki and retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, have similarly engaged US and UK lobbyists to advance national priorities. "This initiative complements, rather than replaces, conventional diplomacy by providing additional channels to engage key stakeholders," observed Mudavadi. Mudavadi's statement comes against the backdrop of media reports indicating President William Ruto's administration approved a contract worth more than Sh325 million to Continental Strategy LLC, a Washington firm owned by Donald Trump's close ally and former ambassador Carlos Trujillo, amid economic challenges facing many Kenyans. Confidential documents show Kenya will pay $175,000 (Sh27.1 million) every month, separate from hotels, flights, chauffeurs, meals and conference fees, for lobbyists in what critics call an attempt to address international concerns about domestic unrest and Kenya hosting Sudan's Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia leaders. The contract, filed under FARA as number 7545 on August 6 by Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'oei, lists State House, Nairobi, as its postal address. A clause keeps it active indefinitely unless either party issues a 30-day termination notice. "We know the inner workings of the White House, Capitol Hill and how to navigate federal agencies to advocate on issues successfully. We have extensive knowledge of agencies such as the US Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Transportation and Department of the Treasury," the company states on its website. In effect, Kenya has committed to a potentially indefinite financial obligation, with taxpayers as the underwriters. The firm's mandate is to lobby US policymakers through informational materials to shore up Ruto's credibility even as his record is questioned at home. When contacted, the Office of the Controller of Budget (CoB), responsible for authorising withdrawals from the Consolidated Fund, could not respond by the time of going to press. "Any project that uses public money must be approved by the people's representatives, and at least the CoB should know. Anything less is a total breach, and the CEO, who is the President, must explain to Kenyans. Somebody must audit this at the end of the day," asserted Dr Kenneth Ombongi. Trujillo, a former Florida state legislator and Trump's ambassador to the Organisation of American States (OAS) from 2018 to 2021, appears to straddle Trump's inner circle and his lobbying business. Even after leaving office, he remains involved in Republican conventions and campaigns while leveraging access through high-dollar contracts. In the agreement, Trujillo cautions Kenya: "During this engagement, we may express opinions regarding issues for which we are being engaged or various courses of action and the results that might be anticipated. Any such statement is intended to be an expression of opinion only, based on information available to us at the time, and should not be construed as a promise or guarantee. There can be no assurances that our efforts on your behalf will be successful." Kenya earned the Major Non-NATO Ally designation last year, granting access to advanced US weapons and surplus military hardware. Republican Senator Jim Risch has proposed an amendment to reassess Kenya's standing, citing links to RSF, engagement with China, Russia and Iran, and domestic unrest, including killings during Gen Z protests. A senior US embassy official in Nairobi downplayed the situation. "This is coming from the legislative arm and not the Executive. It shouldn't appear to anyone that this represents the position of the Trump administration. If anything, it's not obvious that the amendments will pass; this is just one among a long list of other amendments," the official said. President Ruto is scheduled to travel to the US next month for the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly, marking his first trip in President Trump's administration.

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