Ruto, Raila meets Ford Foundation President in the US
President William Ruto has held talks with the President of the Ford Foundation, Darren Walker, in New York
President William Ruto has held talks with the President of the Ford Foundation, Darren Walker, in New York.
In an update on X on Tuesday, September 24, the President shared details of his meeting with Walker further applauding the organization for its advocacy of democracy.
“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 in a statement on X.
Ruto was accompanied in the meeting by ODM leader Raila Odinga alongside other Kenyan delegations.
The meeting comes two months after Ruto accused the Ford Foundation of financing violent protests in Kenya.
Speaking at a roadside rally in Kuresoi South on July 15, 2024, the President claimed that the organization hired individuals to instigate chaos during demonstrations.
Ruto emphasized that his government would not tolerate any form of anarchy and called on the Ford Foundation to clarify its role in these events.
“I want to call out those who are behind the anarchy in Kenya, those who are behind sponsoring chaos in the Republic of Kenya, shame on them because they are sponsoring violence against our democratic nation. I want to ask the Ford Foundation if that money they are giving out to fund violence, how is it going to benefit them?” he said.
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Despite Ruto’s allegations, the Ford Foundation has denied any involvement in sponsoring protests, asserting its commitment to human rights and social justice initiatives.
“While we acknowledge the right of Kenyans to peacefully advocate for a just and equitable country, we repudiate any actions or speech that are hateful or advocate violence against any institution, individual, or community.
“We did not fund or sponsor the recent protests against the finance bill and have a strictly non-partisan policy for all of our grantmaking,” the Ford Foundation said in a statement.
Ruto’s comments followed a series of protests led by young Kenyans advocating for governmental reforms, which he claims have been infiltrated by criminal elements.
He urged those behind the unrest to step forward and present their alternative views instead of remaining anonymous.
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