What is Ford Foundation and why is President Ruto linking them to Kenya’s Gen Z protests?

The Ford Foundation has been thrust into the centre of attention following President William Ruto’s allegations that the American non-governmental organisation has been ‘sponsoring’ violence during the anti-government protests.

Ruto on Monday told a market rally in Nakuru the foundation hired goons to cause mayhem during the youth-led nationwide protests which saw police shoot dead unarmed Kenyans and injure others, abductions, destruction of property and looting of businesses.

“I challenge the Ford Foundation to tell us the money they have been giving out towards violence, what is the benefit in that?” he posed.

“We are going to tell them if they are not interested in democracy in Kenya; if they are going to sponsor violence and anarchy, we are going to call them out and tell them they either style up or leave.”

Established in 1936 in the U.S. state of Michigan by the Ford Motor Company president Edsel Ford and two other executives, the Ford Foundation aimed to "receive and administer funds for scientific, educational and charitable purposes, all for the public welfare.”

It has grown to become one of the world’s top philanthropic organisations with operations in 11 regions across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and North America.

With its headquarters in New York City, Ford Foundation is currently ranked the 11th wealthiest foundation globally with a $13.7 billion (Ksh.1.87 trillion) endowment, behind other notable names in philanthropy such as the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Welcome Trust and the Mastercard Foundation.

The foundation has had operations in Kenya and the larger East Africa region for decades. Its Nairobi office was opened in 1963.

On its website, the organisation says in East Africa, it supports “open civic space, civil society and public dialogue with the government” to ensure Kenyans, Ugandans and Tanzanians can contribute to shaping society.

“Through our civic engagement and government work, we invest in the threads that hold democracies together: basic freedoms, both in the digital domain and our daily lives; an autonomous civil society that can both hold government accountable and bring forth new ideas; and protections for social justice leaders speaking truth to power. We believe that we can end inequality by advancing these democratic values,” the foundation says.

Ford Foundation adds that it supports efforts to advance principles of open government and civil society organizations calling for greater transparency and accountability to prevent systemic corruption.

Prominently known for its grants, the Ford Foundation credits itself with having helped establish the University of Nairobi in 1963 and giving significant grants to universities in Eastern Africa “to invest in the region’s future.”

It has also been at the forefront of advocating for civic justice to protect social justice activists, artists, and marginalised groups.

In April this year, for instance, the foundation announced a ‘Creativity and Civic Space’ grant initiative with a $1.25 million (Ksh.162.5 million) commitment to address “the importance of protecting and expanding civic space across the globe.”

Among the grantees were the Kenyan production company Story Zetu and the theatre collective Too Early For Birds, which has produced several critically acclaimed stage plays and shows in Kenya.

A month prior, in March, the foundation had announced two Kenyans among its international 26-member 2024 Ford Global Fellowship cohort.

Willie Oeba, a spoken word artist and gender advocate Ashura Michael would receive a “no-strings-attached” $25,000 stipend, the foundation said then, which is about Ksh.3.25 million at current exchange rates.

Other locally based entities the foundation has supported over the years are the Nairobi Arts Trust, United Nations Development Program Kenya, Albinism Society of Kenya, Law Society of Kenya, Beyond Zero and Amnesty International, among others.

In the wake of last month’s nationwide protests, initially over the unpopular Finance Bill 2024 -- which sought to increase taxation -- but later against President William Ruto’s administration, the Head of State had accused hitherto unnamed foreign entities of influencing the resistance.

Last week at an event in Kajiado, Ruto told “foreigners planning things for Kenyans” that “Kenya is a democratic country. This is our country and we shall not leave.”

His government's spokesperson Isaac Mwaura last month said unspecified foreign powers were camouflaging in the protests mainly mobilised by young Kenyans of Generation Z (Gen Z), allegedly over Ruto’s stance on various reforms on the world stage.

He cited Ruto’s climate action campaign among the issues that might have unsettled the so-called foreign powers.

But while Ruto has since dropped the contentious draft bill, dissolved his Cabinet and pledged austerity by his government as he works towards an inclusive leadership, a large number of Kenyans still want him to “go”.

On social media, Kenyans have been posting “Ruto must go”, calling for continued protests until Ruto yields and resigns.

For now, though, the embattled President wants the Ford Foundation “to explain to Kenyans its role in the recent protests.”

In a post on X shortly after Monday’s event, President Ruto wrote: “We will call out all those who are bent on rolling back our hard-won democracy.”

The Ford Foundation office in Nairobi was not immediately available for comment.

What exactly does the Ford Foundation do and why is President William Ruto linking them to the Kenya's Gen Z protests? pic.twitter.com/dK6fJ45Y5B