KENYA – The Kenyan government have hired the lobby group Continental Strategy LLC for advocacy and government relations’ services ahead of a meeting between William Ruto and Donald Trump.

The firm is tasked with the work of helping the Kenyan government in federal-level lobbying, dissemination of informational materials, and strategic engagement with key U.S. policymakers, according to a document filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) with the United States Department of Justice.

Kenya will be paying a monthly retainer of $175,000 (over 22.6 million Kenya Shillings), among other expenses like travel costs, hotel accommodation, airfare, meals, car services, and necessary registration fees.

The Kenya’s Foreign Ministry under Principal Secretary Dr. Korir Sing’oei is designated as the official point of contact.

William Ruto will be attending the 80th UN General Assembly meeting in New York, then have a meeting with Trump in Washington DC.

What’s at Stake

William Ruto’s government have recently been criticized both locally and internationally with the latest cases relating to Gen Z protests which saw mass forced disappearances and police brutality.

Ruto had also made a trip to China which sparked outrage from some American policy makers in the fact that Kenya had been designated a non-NATO ally.

Ruto had also had a meeting with Sudan’s RSF paramilitary group that sought Kenya’s support on a parallel government.

He has been linked with various international non-state actors, which to some extent makes his leadership questionable.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee chair Jim Risch introduced an amendment to the FY2026 National Defence Authorisation Act that would order the State Department to conduct a formal review of Kenya’s designation as a Major Non-NATO Ally (MNNA) and deliver a classified report to Congress.

The Senate passed its version of the defence bill the same day, but the review remains a proposal until it survives House–Senate negotiations and is signed into law.

The task of the firm now is to lobby on behalf of William Ruto’s government and maybe bring it into the west’s mercies.