President William Ruto has accused the Ford Foundation, an American private foundation, of sponsoring violence during the #RejectFinanceBill2024 and the #OccupyBunge national protests.
Speaking in Nakuru on Monday, Ruto claimed that the Foundation hired goons to cause mayhem during the protests which led to the destruction of property and looting of businesses.
He has firmly expressed his conviction that the destruction of the state’s critical infrastructures including Parliament was done by the hired young goons whom he has termed as “criminals”
The Ford Foundation, established in 1963 by Edsel Ford, operates in 11 regions globally, including East Africa, where it partners with Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to advocate for civic justice. The Foundation has disbursed over Ksh.138 billion ($10.7 million) since 2009 for social justice causes.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Korir Sing’oei, listed 16 entities that received funding from the Ford Foundation as follows: Africa Uncensored Limited (Project Mulika): US$ 250,000, Women’s Link Worldwide: US$ 750,000, Centre for Resource Mobilization and Development: US$ 20,000, Transform Empowerment for Action Initiative: US$ 220,000, Kenya Human Rights Commission: US$ 600,000, Open Institute Trust: US$ 100,000, Africa Centre for Open Governance: US$ 200,000, Transparency International: US$ 300,000, The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA): US$ 200,000, National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders (K): US$ 257,000, Shinning Hope for Communities Inc.: US$ 2,050,000, Coalition for Grassroots Human Rights Defenders Kenya: US$ 250,000, Community Aid International: US$ 100,000, Mzalendo Trust: US$ 335,000, Usikimye (Femicide): US$ 30,000 and Citizens Advancement Initiative: US$ 150,000.
Following the release of the list of organizations associated with FORD FOUNDATION by the PS, the CSOs issued a counter statement calling out the government on attempting to sabotage the independent functions of the civil society organizations in protecting and upholding of human rights.