Former CJ Mutunga scoffs threats against him, vows to support anti-govt demos

Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga has dismissed allegations that he funded the recent anti-government protests against President William Ruto's administration.

Mutunga who spoke to The Eastleigh Voice said he is not perturbed by the mudslinging posters and online mudslinging linking him with attempts to make the country ungovernable.

"I believe my ideological and political position that I have had since the early 1970s, namely, that our elites are enslaved by foreign interests; and that neither the opposition nor the government can be trusted to govern in the national interest, is the basis of these attacks. The mercenary 150 bloggers are all known," said Mutunga.

The former head of the Judiciary who has been an activist since his retirement said, "The criticism will not stop me from supporting the demands the Gen Z and Millennials are making, all anchored in the 2010 Constitution."

The critics backing the government have linked Mutunga to the Ford Foundation the government has accused of funding the revolt.

On Friday, the US-based Ford Foundation refuted allegations that it had sponsored 16 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to incite anarchy in Kenya. This statement followed the receipt of a letter from Kenya's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, questioning its financial activities in the country.

The Ford Foundation clarified that its operations in Kenya are solely for charitable purposes, emphasising that information about its activities and funding is transparently available on its website.

The Foundation's president, Darren Walker, emphasised the complete online records that indicate how monies are used in Kenya.

Walker stated, "While we continue to 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."

The allegations surfaced shortly after Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing'Oei wrote to the Ford Foundation, demanding an accountability report.

Mutunga said that the Ford Foundation finances 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 questioned why the government does not blame itself for accepting funds from foreign interests that, according to Ruto, undermine the country's national interests.

"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.