Ford Foundation Answers Ruto Govt Over Letter Seeking Clarity On Ksh747M Grants

The American non-governmental organisation, Ford Foundation, has responded to a letter from the Kenyan government seeking clarity on Ksh746.89 million ($5.78 million) worth of grants.

In a statement published on its official website on Friday, July 19, the foundation advised President William Ruto's government to refer to its website which contains the database showing where the grant funds go to.

This is a move that evidences the foundation's commitment to transparency in terms of issuing grants to various beneficiaries.

"We are in receipt of a letter from the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs addressed to the Ford Foundation dated 18 July 2024. 

"As a charitable foundation with a global presence, our grantmaking is transparent and readily available on our website, www.fordfoundation.org. This includes a database showing where our funds go, as well as highlights from our rich history in East Africa and around the world," read the statement in part.

The Foundation reiterated that while it continues 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."

"We remain ever committed to building on the legacy of the Ford Foundation’s more than 60 years in the region so that Kenyans can unlock opportunities that extend to all," the foundation added.

The statement comes hours after the government of Kenya stepped up the scrutiny on the foundation by writing to the US-based foundation requesting more details on 16 of its grant recipients.

This is on the back of President Ruto's fiery allegations that the foundation was sponsoring violence and unrest in Kenya. During a recent public address, Ruto condemned the foundation, accusing it of fuelling chaos through its financial support, saying “If they are going to sponsor violence in Kenya,” Ruto declared, “we are going to call them out and we are going to tell them that they either style up or they leave.”

The earlier move in this high-stakes confrontation between the Kenyan government and the foundation saw the Ministry of Foreign Affairs pen a stern letter demanding a comprehensive account of how the recipients utilised the grants.

In the letter to Ford Foundation President Darren Walker and obtained by Viral Tea, the Principal Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Abraham Korir Sing'oei, stated that other than the millions disbursed to the grantees between April 2023 and May 2024, there revealed unexplained expedited funding amounting to US$ 1.49 million (approximately Ksh194 million) - over the last month alone. 

The PS noted with deep concern that most of the Grantees have been at the centre of the Anti-Finance Bill protests and the "subsequent anarchic mobilizations that have sought to upend the peace and security of the state".

The government cited organisations under the spotlight including Africa Uncensored Limited linked to veteran investigative journalist, John Allan Namu, in a list that also includes a mix of human rights groups, media organisations, and civic bodies, all of which have been pivotal in recent protests against the government. Others cited include the Kenya Human Rights Commission and Mzalendo Trust.

The Grantees

The organisations that allegedly received grants from the Ford Foundation include; Africa Uncensored Limited (Project Mulika) Ksh32.7 million ($250,000), Women’s Link Worldwide Ksh98.2 million ($750,000), Centre for Resource Mobilization and Development Ksh2.6 million ($ 20,000), Transform Empowerment for Action Initiative Ksh28.8 million ($ 220,000) and the Kenya Human Rights Commission Ksh78.6 million ($ 600,000).

Others are Open Institute Trust Ksh13.1 million ($100,000), Africa Centre for Open Governance Ksh26.2 million ($200,000), Transparency International Ksh39.3 million($300,000), The Institute for Social Accountability (TISA) Ksh26.2 million($ 200,000) National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders (K) Ksh33.6 million ($257,000) and Shinning Hope for Communities Inc Ksh268 million($2,050,000)

The Ford Foundation also issued grants to the Coalition for Grassroots Human Rights Defenders Kenya Ksh32.7 million ($250,000), Community Aid International Ksh13.1 million($100,000), Mzalendo Trust Ksh43.8 million($ 335,000) Usikimye (Femicide) Ksh3.9 million ($30,000) and the Citizens Advancement Initiative; Ksh19.6 million ($150,000).

"You will concede that the above funds disbursed to non-state recipients are substantial and must be prudently used to serve legitimate purposes or risk abuse to aid nefarious ends. Thus, while we recognize the importance of maintaining an open civic space and respect for the principles of open government that we both share, the actions of some of your Grantees contravene the laws of Kenya, including the prohibition against incitement, hate speech, insurrection and mobilization using disinformation. 

"Their conduct also fundamentally flouts Ford Foundation's Non-Lobbying Policy begging the question of whether your Foundation has abandoned this policy and is now intent on adversely influencing the internal political and policy processes within the Republic of Kenya," the letter added.

The Requests

The Ministry, while noting the existing framework governing the cooperation of Ford Foundation and the Kenya government, deemed it imperative that the foundation immediately clears the air on a number of issues touching on its grantees by responding to four requests:

1. Ford Foundation was directed to provide full details of its grantees over the last year, the programmes approved (particularly over the last three months), budgets for each project, the amounts so far disbursed and what is pipelined for disbursement.
2. The government urged the foundation to furnish the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs with reports from the foundation's Grantees detailing the activities carried out, the cost of these activities and their beneficiaries.
3. Ford Foundation was also tasked to share a report on its compliance with its Non-Lobbying Policy or a statement that this policy is inapplicable to its activities in the country.
4. The government also called on the Ford Foundation to prescribe any sanctions it will impose for breaches of the law or its internal policies.