President Ruto Meets Ford Foundation's Darren Walker Amid Past Allegations of Funding Protests
President William Ruto met with Ford Foundation President Darren Walker, praising the foundation's support for democracy. This meeting follows past allegations by Ruto accusing the foundation of funding protests in Kenya, which the organization has denied.
President William Ruto recently met with Ford Foundation President, Darren Walker, in New. On September 24, the President posted about his discussion with Walker on X. He praised the foundation for its efforts in supporting democracy.
"Kenya appreciates the Ford Foundation’s commitment to protecting our democracy & backing Kenya's calls for reforms in global economic institutions, climate action, & regulating modern technology," Ruto shared on X.
This meeting comes just two months after Ruto accused the Ford Foundation of funding violent protests in Kenya. Ruto had made some strong claims at a rally in Kuresoi South on July 15, 2024. He said that the organization was hiring people to stir up trouble during demonstrations. He stressed that his government wouldn’t allow any anarchy and urged the Ford Foundation to clarify its role in these protests.
"I want to call out those behind the chaos in Kenya, those sponsoring violence against our democratic nation. If the Ford Foundation is spending money to fund this violence—what do they hope to gain from it?” he stated. Even with Ruto's allegations, the Ford Foundation has firmly denied any involvement in funding protests. They assert their commitment to human rights & social justice initiatives.
"While we support Kenyans’ right to peacefully advocate for a just country, we reject any actions or speech that stir hate or promote violence against anyone,” said a spokesperson from the foundation. "We didn’t fund or sponsor recent protests against the finance bill. We maintain a strictly non-partisan policy for all our grants," they added.
Ruto's comments came after several protests led by young Kenyans demanding government reforms. He believes these events have been influenced by criminal elements.He called on those instigating unrest to come forward and voice their opinions openly instead of hiding.
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