NAIROBI, Kenya — The Government of Kenya has hired Continental Strategy LLC, a U.S.-based lobbying firm, to provide government relations and advocacy services in preparation for President William Ruto’s upcoming state visit to the United States. During the visit, President Ruto is scheduled to hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump.
Details of the agreement, dated August 6, 2025, are outlined in documents filed under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) with the United States Department of Justice.
The filing confirms that the firm will support the Kenyan government with federal-level lobbying, the dissemination of informational materials, and strategic engagement with key U.S. policymakers.
According to the contract, Continental Strategy LLC will receive a monthly retainer of $175,000 (approximately KSh 22 million), in addition to being reimbursed for expenses related to the engagement.
These expenses include travel costs, hotel accommodation, airfare, meals, car services, and necessary registration fees.
“The Firm will invoice the Client each month for reasonable costs associated with the engagement, excluding standard office operation costs such as overhead, staff, and equipment,” the agreement states.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, through Principal Secretary Dr. Korir Sing’oei, has been designated as the official point of contact on behalf of the Republic of Kenya.
The contract also features an automatic renewal clause unless either party issues a termination notice at least 30 days before the end of the initial 12-month period.
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The engagement precedes President Ruto’s planned visit to the U.S., where he will participate in the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York before heading to Washington, D.C., for bilateral discussions with President Trump.
This will be President Ruto’s first official U.S. visit under the Trump administration and is expected to be pivotal in shaping future diplomatic and trade relations between Nairobi and Washington.
Observers note that the visit comes at a crucial time, following President Ruto’s April 2025 trip to China, during which his remarks were perceived by some as signaling a shift toward Beijing in global geopolitical alignment.
His meeting with President Trump is expected to address these concerns and reaffirm Kenya’s strategic partnerships with Western nations.