President William Ruto’s administration has paid over Ksh300 million to US President Donald Trump’s ally, Carlos Trujillo’s firm, to polish its image in Washington.
In official documents shared by the US Department of Justice dated August 8, the deal, which was not publicly announced, revealed that Kenya is paying hundreds of millions annually to the Washington D.C.-based firm founded by Carlos Trujillo, a former US ambassador and close ally of Trump.
According to the document, the deal aims to reshape Kenya’s image in Washington and secure favourable trade terms amid the upcoming expiration of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and Kenya's recent non-NATO status. AGOA has long provided Kenya with duty-free access to the US market, but its future remains uncertain.
“We are pleased you have decided to engage CONTINENTAL STRATEGY LLC (the 'Firm') to provide lobbying services and government relations consulting at the federal level to the Republic of Kenya ('You' or the 'Client'). This agreement will memorialise the terms and conditions under which we will undertake this engagement,” the statement read in part.
Although the document provided has not revealed the exact services the firm will offer, it is evident that the firm specialises in streamlining relations due to Trujillo’s deep ties to Republican power circles.
The lobbying efforts will include preserving Kenya’s trade privileges, countering negative perceptions about Ruto’s administration, and navigating complex diplomatic tensions, especially after Kenya’s recent close relations with China.
The agreement is effective from August 6, the date it was signed, and is automatically renewed monthly unless either party gives 30 days’ written notice to terminate.
To ensure effective lobbying, Kenya must provide the firm with relevant information to support the efforts. Kenya must also make payments as agreed.
“The Firm agrees to provide government relations services to the Client. The Client’s duty is to provide the Firm with the information necessary to best advance the Client’s objectives. The Client is responsible for the timely payment of the Monthly Retainer and costs,” the statement continued.
To facilitate the agreement, Kenya must pay Ksh23 million (USD 175,000) monthly (the “Monthly Retainer”) for a 12-month period.
“The Monthly Retainer shall be paid each month thereafter on or before the 1st day of each month until the termination of this agreement. Additionally, the Firm will invoice the Client each month for reasonable costs associated with the engagement,” the statement continued.
The amount includes, but is not limited to, necessary registration fees and travel expenses, such as hotel, airfare, car services, and meals, excluding costs typically associated with office operations, including overhead, staff, and equipment.
The agreement is set to expire on October 31, 2026.
