President William Ruto held high-level discussions with Ford Foundation President Darren Walker in New York on Monday, marking a significant shift in relations between the Kenyan government and the philanthropic organization.
The meeting comes two months after the Ruto administration accused the Ford Foundation of financing youth-led anti-government protests in Kenya.
The protests, which erupted on June 18, initially aimed at rejecting the Finance Bill 2024 but later evolved into calls for President Ruto’s resignation.
At the time, Ruto blamed foreign interference for the unrest, with the Ford Foundation being singled out as a key sponsor of the protests.
The President criticized the foundation for allegedly backing Generation Z demonstrators, who disrupted key government institutions, including Parliament.
However, following his meeting with Walker, Ruto appeared to soften his stance, praising the foundation for its role in promoting democratic governance and supporting Kenya’s push 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 global economic institutions, climate action, and modern technology regulation,” Ruto said after the talks.
In July, Ruto had publicly condemned the foundation, accusing it of funding chaos aimed at destabilizing his government.
Speaking in Nakuru, he questioned the foundation’s motives, stating, “Those behind sponsoring chaos in the Republic of Kenya, shame on them!
They are sponsoring violence against our democratic nation.”
The Ford Foundation, which has operated in Kenya since 1963, responded to the accusations by emphasizing the transparency of its grant-making process.
In a statement issued on July 20, the foundation maintained that all its grants are publicly accessible on its website.
It denied any involvement in sponsoring violence or chaos, stating, “We do not support any actions or speech that are hateful or advocate violence against any institution, individual, or community.”
Kenya’s government had earlier demanded disclosures on Sh946 million in funding the foundation had extended to local rights groups, many of which were linked to the protests.
Despite the accusations, the foundation reiterated its commitment to fostering social change and supporting peaceful advocacy in Kenya.
The meeting between Ruto and Walker signals a potential thaw in relations, as both parties now seek common ground on issues such as economic reforms and climate change.
The Ford Foundation also reaffirmed its dedication to its 60-year legacy in the region, aiming to unlock opportunities that benefit all Kenyans.
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