Kenya’s President Ruto Meets with Ford Foundation President, Reverses Stance on Organization’s Role in Protests
In a surprising turn of events, Kenyan President William Ruto met with the President of the Ford Foundation, Darren Walker, in New York, just two months after accusing the organization of sponsoring youth-led protests against his government. The meeting appears to have changed Ruto’s stance on the Ford Foundation’s involvement in the protests.
The protests, which began on June 18 with calls for the rejection of the Finance Bill 2024, later morphed into calls for Ruto’s resignation. Ruto initially blamed the protests on interference from foreign forces, but following his meeting with Walker, he praised the organization for pushing for democratic governance and supporting Kenya’s initiatives for global economic reforms and climate action.
"Kenya appreciates the Ford Foundation’s commitment to safeguarding our democracy and supporting Kenya’s calls for reforms in the global economic institutions, climate action, and modern technology regulation," Ruto said after the meeting.
The Ford Foundation, which has been supporting courageous leaders on the frontlines of social change in Kenya since 1963, has consistently maintained that its grant-making process is transparent and readily available. In response to Kenya’s demand for disclosures on Sh946 million extended to Kenyan grantees in just a year, the organization provided a statement asserting that its grant-making process is "transparent and readily available" on its website.
The organization also emphasized its commitment to building on its legacy in the region to enable Kenyans to unlock opportunities that are beneficial to everyone. While acknowledging the right of Kenyans to peacefully advocate for a just and equitable country, the Ford Foundation does not support any actions or speech that are hateful or advocate violence against any institution, individual, or community.
The meeting between Ruto and Walker comes after the Kenyan government accused the Ford Foundation of sponsoring the protests, which were largely youth-led. The government had demanded answers from the organization regarding the unexplained manner in which the funds were spent, and had listed 16 rights groups that benefited from over Sh900 million funding allegedly linked to chaos during the recent protests.
The Ford Foundation’s commitment to transparency and its support for democratic governance and social change in Kenya have been a subject of controversy in recent months. The organization’s role in the protests has been a point of contention, with some accusing it of meddling in Kenya’s internal affairs. However, the organization has consistently maintained that its grant-making process is transparent and that it does not support violence or hate speech.
The meeting between Ruto and Walker marks a significant shift in the Kenyan government’s stance on the Ford Foundation’s involvement in the protests. It remains to be seen whether this change in tone will lead to a more collaborative approach between the government and the organization, or whether the controversy will continue to simmer in the background.