
Ford Foundation Delegation Meets Up Kenyan Gov’t Days After Protests Sponsorship Claims
Foreign Affairs Secretary Korir Sing’oei met with a delegation from the Ford Foundation on Thursday, after Kenya accused the foundation of funding anti-government protests.
Sing’oei welcomed a delegation from the Ford Foundation, led by Martin Abregu, Vice President for International Programs, and Nishka Chandrasoma, Vice President and General Counsel.
The PS stated that the meeting aimed to exchange ideas on issues raised in his letter to the president of the Ford Foundation on July 18, 2024.
“During the constructive, and candid discussions between our delegations, I underscored Kenya’s commitment to building a robust civic space that enables citizens’ engagement in governance,” he said.
Today, we hosted a delegation from the Ford Foundation led by Mr. Martin Abregu, the Vice President for International Programs & Nishka Chandrasoma, Vice President & General Counsel, with a view to exchanging views on issues raised in my letter to the president of the Ford… pic.twitter.com/U5LFKqf0ug
— Korir Sing'Oei (@SingoeiAKorir) August 1, 2024
According to the PS, the meeting emphasised the importance of all Ford Foundation grant recipients, whether in government or the non-state sector, using donor funds responsibly.
Sing’oei also insisted that they do so in a way that promotes the country’s constitutional values and developmental goals while ensuring the State’s security and stability.
In a letter to Ford Foundation President Darren Walker, Sing’oei stated that some Ford Foundation-funded organizations have been at the center of anti-government protests.
He stated that Kenya was concerned that some of the protest organizations had spent millions of shillings in the previous month in an unexplainable manner.
“It is noteworthy that several of your grantees below mentioned received a total of US$ 5.78 Million (approximately Kenya Shillings 752 Million) between April 2023 and May 2024 – with unexplained expedited funding amounting to US$ 1.49 M (approximately Kenya shillings 194 million) – over the last month alone,” the letter read.
The PS stated on Thursday that the meeting emphasized the importance of Grant Beneficiaries adhering to the values, operational guidelines, and administrative principles outlined in the Ford Foundation’s Cooperation Agreement with Kenya.
“Consequently, it is the expectation of the government of Kenya that the Ford Foundation shall rigorously and across project cycles monitor operations of all Grant Beneficiaries for compliance and ensure that any material departure from the terms of the Cooperation Agreement or Kenyan law, particularly those that advance objectives incompatible with national interest, must attract sanctions,” he said.
The PS was joined at the meeting by Saitoti Maika, Director General of the Financial Reporting Centre, Lindon Otieno, Acting Executive Director of the Public Benefits Organizations Regulatory Authority, Ambassador Phillip Thigo, Special Envoy on Technology, and Ambassador Makena Muchiri, Deputy Director General Privileges and Immunities Directorate.
Ford Foundation Delegation Meets Up Kenyan Gov’t Days After Protests Sponsorship Claims