Ruto Shifts Blame To An American NGO For Allegedly Funding Protests In Kenya
On Monday, President William Ruto accused the Ford Foundation, an American non-governmental organization (NGO), of financing recent anti-government protests in Kenya.
While addressing Kenyans at Keringet Market in Nakuru County, Ruto spoke forcefully, emphasizing the importance of peace in Kenya and claiming that some parties benefited greatly from the protests.
The President claimed that the parties in question were funneling funds to unidentified groups in Kenya to stage protests and destabilize the country.
Our youth are not available for retrogressive assignments. Those sponsoring them to cause violence and mayhem must be ashamed of themselves. We ask the Ford Foundation to explain to Kenyans its role in the recent protests. We will call out all those who are bent on rolling back… pic.twitter.com/5IcnwQw6e5
— William Samoei Ruto, PhD (@WilliamsRuto) July 15, 2024
“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.
President Ruto also claimed that the organisation had ill intentions and was working against Kenya’s best interests and democracy.
“I want to ask the people from Ford Foundation to explain to us what they seek to gain by destabilising Kenya’s democracy,” stated Ruto.
Earlier in the day, President Ruto had expressed similar sentiments while on a development tour in Nakuru.
The President urged the youth to avoid becoming cronies of such powerful parties.
“I want to tell those people who are taking money and trying to fund violence in Kenya that I will stop them. We want peace and that is our stand,” he added.
Interestingly, the president’s remarks follow those of the Government’s Spokesperson Isaac Mwaura, who claimed on June 22 that some international players were involved in funding the protests.
“Our young people, please don’t allow people to make our country a country of war, destruction and chaos.“
Mwaura also stated that some foreign powers were dissatisfied with Ruto’s efforts to end reliance on the US Dollar as the primary currency for international trade, which prompted their intervention in Kenyan politics.
On July 3, the government announced that police were investigating six politicians, a businessman, and two non-governmental organisations (NGOs) suspected of financing the protests.
Among those under investigation were a Rift Valley politician, three Nairobi residents, and two Central Kenyans.
The businessman was said to reside in Rift Valley. An international and a local non-governmental organization were also under investigation.
Ruto Shifts Blame To An American NGO For Allegedly Funding Protests In Kenya
