Kenya is considering a new law to regulate foreign agents, lobbyists and foreign-funded activities.
Prime Cabinet Secretary and Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi on Monday said his office is considering a Foreign Agents Registration framework requiring the registration and disclosure of foreign agents, lobbyists and foreign-funded activities.
Mudavadi said the proposed framework would be aimed at enhancing transparency and safeguarding Kenya’s national interests, “while ensuring legitimate international partnerships are not constrained”
The announcement introduces a potentially significant new dimension to Kenya’s management of foreign influence at a time when Nairobi is positioning itself as a major diplomatic, humanitarian and economic hub in the region.
The could also significantly reshape how foreign influence is disclosed and scrutinised ahead of the 2027 elections.
Mudavadi made the remarks at the Fifth Nairobi Caucus on Protecting Critical Infrastructure Systems and Public Spaces, where he linked the need for stronger safeguards to evolving terrorism, cyber threats and other risks to national security.
He cited the United States’ Foreign Agents Registration Act as an example of a growing international practice of requiring registration, oversight and public disclosure of foreign agents and lobbyists.
The Kenyan proposal also comes against the backdrop of a similar contentious debate in neighbouring Uganda, which in May enacted the Protection of Sovereignty Act, 2026.
The law provides for the registration and regulation of agents of foreigners and regulates their foreign funding.
Uganda’s experience provides an important regional reference point for Kenya.
The Ugandan legislation initially generated strong opposition over concerns that its broad provisions could affect political activity, civil society and foreign-funded organisations. Uganda’s Parliament subsequently narrowed several provisions before passing the Bill, including dropping a proposal that would have classified Ugandans living abroad as foreigners and tightening provisions that critics feared could criminalise ordinary associations with foreign entities.
The final Ugandan law nevertheless requires people acting as agents of foreigners to register and provides restrictions around foreign funding and political activities. It defines a foreigner broadly to include foreign governments, diplomatic missions, companies, NGOs and international or multinational organisations where they finance or support specified activities.
Uganda’s opposition had argued that the proposed legislation was unnecessary and potentially harmful to the country’s democratic and economic environment. They said existing laws already addressed issues such as illicit financial flows and unlawful foreign funding.
The Ugandan debate also exposed the delicate balance governments face when attempting to regulate foreign influence without discouraging legitimate international engagement.
That balance will be particularly important in Kenya.
Nairobi hosts hundreds of diplomatic missions, international organisations, development agencies, multinational companies and civil society organisations whose work involves international financing, technical assistance and cross-border partnerships.
Mudavadi’s own formulation appears conscious of this sensitivity. He specifically said the proposed framework would safeguard national interests while ensuring legitimate international partnerships are not constrained.
The timing is also significant.
Kenya is heading towards the 2027 General Election, when foreign funding, political lobbying, digital influence and international advocacy are likely to attract increased scrutiny. Mudavadi warned separately that public gatherings would be particularly vulnerable to terrorist attacks during the election campaign, while organised criminal gangs could evolve into more serious security threats.
He noted that Kenya needs to understand the foreign forces shaping its decisions as part of protecting its sovereignty.
“A nation that understands the foreign forces shaping its decisions is a nation that safeguards its sovereignty,” Mudavadi said.
Mudavadi did not provide details on the proposed registration requirements, which institutions would administer the framework, who would be classified as a foreign agent, or what penalties would apply.
