Mudavadi defends Kenya’s lobbying deal, calls it strategic investment

Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi has defended Kenya’s engagement with a U.S.-based lobbying firm. He dismissed criticism of the pact and clarified that the deal is both legitimate and transparent.

Mudavadi explained that such partnerships are standard practice worldwide, employed by governments to advance national interests in locations like Washington DC, where competition for visibility and influence is “intense, complex, and highly structured.”

He noted that at least 17 countries, including five in Africa, have signed lobbying contracts with American firms since November 2024, amounting to over $21 million.

“For Kenya, the decision to contract specialized expertise is a strategic investment with guaranteed returns,” Mudavadi said. “It aims at strengthening our bilateral relations, safeguarding national interests, promoting tourism and trade, and amplifying Kenya’s voice on priority issues, including climate finance, security cooperation, and investment promotion,”

He added that Kenya’s significant diaspora community in the U.S. further necessitates the move, as it will help improve services, expand youth employment opportunities, and enhance productive mobility.

The Prime CS noted that Kenya’s lobbying efforts are not new, pointing out that every administration since independence—from Jomo Kenyatta through Daniel arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki, and Uhuru Kenyatta—has engaged lobbying firms in the U.S. and UK to leverage expertise and geopolitical influence.

Referring to the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), Mudavadi explained that all lobbying engagements are publicly disclosed on the U.S. Department of Justice website, ensuring accessibility and transparency.

“Just as one media outlet accessed these records, any other interested party can freely obtain these documents,” he said.

He stressed that the initiative does not replace conventional diplomacy but rather complements Kenya’s foreign missions by providing additional channels to engage stakeholders in an evolving policy environment.