It was wrong for Ruto to link the Ford Foundation to protests; Ambassador Whitman
US Ambassador Meg Whitman now says President Ruto was wrong for linking the Ford Foundation to protests
US Ambassador Meg Whitman now says President Ruto was wrong for linking the Ford Foundation to protests.
United States Ambassador to Kenya, Meg Whitman, on Tuesday dismissed the government’s allegations that the Ford Foundation sponsored the recent anti-government protests in Kenya.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV, Whitman termed Ruto’s sentiments as inappropriate stating that it was wrong for him to go after the US-based organization.
According to the Ambassador, the sole purpose of the foundation’s existence in Kenya was to support many civil society organizations.
“I thought that was absolutely wrong. The Ford Foundation has worked in this country for almost 60 years. They support many civil society organizations. I think that in the end, people will agree that the Ford Foundation had nothing to do with this,” Whitman clarified.
“I thought it was very inappropriate for the government to go after the Ford Foundation.”
Whitman, while addressing the matter, revealed that she held talks with the government on the issue and that a resolution has already been made following the government’s engagement with the Foundation’s officials.
The ambassador noted the foundation’s existence in Kenya was very vital for civil societies such as religious leaders and thus making such allegations against it was unwarranted.
Whitman’s sentiments come hardly two months after President William Ruto accused the foundation of sponsoring 16 non-governmental organisations to fuel anarchy in the country.
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In its response, the organisation refuted the allegations and clarified that its presence in Kenya was specifically for charitable purposes.
According to the foundation, all the information about its operations in Kenya was transparently available on its website.
On August 1, the Foundation’s officials held a meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to deliberate on issues raised in the letter addressed to the organisation’s President Darren Walker over the allegations.
During the meeting, the officials of the Ford Foundation were urged to responsibly utilise donor funds in a manner that advances the country’s constitutional values and developmental aspirations.
The US-based multinational entity was also directed to adhere to the values, operational guidelines and administrative principles as incorporated in the agreement signed between the government and the Ford Foundation.
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