U.S. AMBASSADOR TO KENYA DENOUNCES GOVERNMENT’S ACCUSATIONS AGAINST FORD FOUNDATION
In a televised interview on Citizen TV, United States Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman had this to say about the recent accusations the Kenyan government had leveled against the Ford Foundation.
Whiteman said, “I thought that was wrong. The Ford Foundation has worked in this country for almost 60 years. They support many civil society organizations. Civil society is very important to democracy alongside youth and religious leaders. I believe in the long run that people will conclude that none of it was at all related to the Ford Foundation.”
Whiteman, however, made clear her stance and said that the Ford Foundation has long been involved in supporting various critical groups that are part of Kenya’s democracy.
“Of course, they fund civil organisations, and so do other foundations. I thought it was very inappropriate for the government to go after the Ford Foundation,” Whitman added.
This she said after the government in Kenya accused some organizations beneficiaries of the Ford Foundation funding of involvement in anti-government protests.
Concerns were raised in a letter from the Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’oei, dated July 18, 2024. Sing’oei’s letter highlighted that some had received substantial funding, to the tune of US$ 1.49 million in the month the protests began.
“It is noteworthy that several of your Grantees below-mentioned received a total amount of US$ 5.78 Million – approximately Sh752 Million- between April 2023 and May 2024, with unexplained expedited funding amounting to US$ 1.49 M – approximately Sh194 million – in the last month alone,” Sing’oei wrote.
The Ford Foundation responded to the accusations and stated that their operations in the country had always been open.
The Kenyan government had earlier pinpointed at least 16 Non-Governmental Organizations that it claimed were involved in aiding the protests.
The Ambassador’s remarks marked a continuing discussion between the U.S. and Kenyan governments over ironing out the issue and explaining the involvement of the Ford Foundation.
