Irony as Ford Foundation accused by Ruto of fuelling protests, funds govt entities

The Ford Foundation, which President William Ruto has accused of funding ongoing protests against his administration, is supporting state agencies and several non-governmental organisations in the country, according to a spot check by the Eastleigh Voice.

Created in 1936 by Edsel Ford and his father, Henry Ford, the Ford Foundation is an American private foundation with the stated goal of advancing human welfare.

For instance, the organisation partners with the Kenyan Judiciary to help the legislative wing of the government implement most of its programmes.

In February this year, Head of the Judiciary Martha Koome hosted the Ford Foundation Global Board led by President Darren Walker, alongside Judges of the Supreme Court of Kenya, to discuss our shared commitment to advancing social justice.

She announced that the Ford Foundation has been an enduring partner of the Kenyan Judiciary and supported the post-2010 Constitution Judiciary to dialogue with other jurisdictions to enrich jurisprudence and cross-border judicial solidarity.

"Our continuing partnership will focus on the pursuit of people-centred justice programmes under the Social Transformation through Access to Justice (STAJ) blueprint to spur universal access to justice, especially for the marginalised and vulnerable," wrote Koome on her X page.

She went ahead to indicate that the judiciary will also work together to support interventions to end and address inequality through the STAJ model, which aspires to nurture its multiple roles as adjudicator of disputes, facilitator of dialogue, promoter of social harmony, and connector of justice champions.

The Ford Foundation also funds the National Gender and Equality Commission, Twaweza East Africa Limited to promote an open society, and the Albinism Society of Kenya to enhance the accountability of disability resources at the national level and of people with Albinism in Taita Taveta and Kiambu counties.

It also supports the Law Society of Kenya for a project known as Securing Constitutionalism and the Rule of Law: Reflection on 10 Years of the Kenyan Constitution.

A man holds a bullet shell, a flag, and a sign during a demonstration over police killings of people protesting against the imposition of tax hikes by the government in Nairobi, Kenya, on July 2, 2024. (Photo: REUTERS/Monicah Mwangi)

Other beneficiaries are the University of Nairobi for the Institute on Development Studies' annual conference on development—from the 1960s to today—focusing on lessons learned and fostering transformation.

The James Njonjo Mue  Organisation is also funded for the publication of reflections and experiences of a Social Justice Leader, Njonjo Mue, 'Journeying Through a Minefield of Social Justice.'

Both the activists and the youth have countlessly countered Ruto's claims that the protests are funded by international bodies.

On Monday, former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga, while speaking to The Eastleigh Voice, once again refuted Ruto's claim. He said that the Ford Foundation finances both the government and civil society and that the current administration has all the information about its funding.

"I worked at the FF. Its funding is linked to the implementation of the Constitution and other areas of economic and social development. I am not surprised I am being accused of getting funds for the mass action from the US. Our government has to blame someone for its incompetence. My criticism of the KANU dictatorship, which turns 61 in December, is in the public domain," said Mutunga.

He wondered why the government does not criticise itself for receiving funds from foreign interests that, in Ruto's own words, subvert the national interests of the country.

"When will our politicians stop buying our votes? It takes intelligence to lie and they have none. The media must focus on the truths we are telling the people about their government," he added.

LSK President Faith Odhiambo challenged Ruto to provide evidence of his claims rather than a blanket accusation. She said, "The president should stop roadside accusations and provide credible evidence in his claims."

Since the protests began, the president has hinted at unmanned foreigners supporting revolts against the government and, for the first time on Monday, directly accused the Ford Foundation.

"Those who are sponsoring the violence, we know them, and I want to call out those who are behind the anarchy in Kenya. Shame on them!" Ruto stated.

"I want to ask the people from the Ford Foundation to explain to us what they seek to gain by destabilising Kenya's democracy," he added.