Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has taken a significant step in his possible 2027 presidential bid by hiring a Canadian lobbying firm, Dickens & Madson, for a substantial fee of KSh 32 million ($250,000).
This move signals Matiang’i’s intentions to build a robust international support network as he eyes the highest office in Kenya.
Dickens & Madson, based in Montreal, Canada, is a lobbying and public relations firm founded by the controversial political consultant Ari Ben-Menashe.
The firm has a reputation for working with clients facing international scrutiny, offering services that include strategic advice, lobbying, and public relations.
Dickens & Madson specializes in influencing policy decisions by engaging with government officials and legislators across powerful nations.
Under the agreement signed on July 13, 2024, the firm is tasked with lobbying top governments, including the United States, United Kingdom, Japan, and Kenya, on Matiang’i’s behalf.
The goal is to help him gain international support as he navigates his political ambitions.
Additionally, the firm will assist Matiang’i in formulating and executing policies to stabilize and develop his political goals, particularly his aim to become the President of Kenya in 2027.
Dickens & Madson’s track record includes representing several foreign governments, often those with poor human rights records or facing sanctions.
The firm has been involved in lobbying efforts for Zimbabwe under President Emmerson Mnangagwa, promoting land deals and attempting to improve the country’s international standing amid significant criticism.
One of the firm’s more controversial engagements involved lobbying for Paul Calder Le Roux, a former criminal mastermind, raising ethical questions about their choice of clients.
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