President William Ruto and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a phone conversation on Thursday to discuss the current situation in Kenya. According to Blinken’s spokesperson, Matthew Miller, the discussion focused on the need to safeguard the voices of Kenyan youth and civil society. Blinken emphasized the importance of defending the media as well.
Miller stated that the Secretary of State urged Ruto to ensure accountability for the actions of the country’s security forces. “In a call with Kenyan President Ruto, @SecBlinken reiterated the need to defend and protect the voices of youth, civil society, and media. The Secretary also underscored that the security forces need to be held accountable,” the spokesperson said.
This call follows the Kenyan government’s request for answers from the Ford Foundation regarding its funding to certain organizations in Kenya, which the state suspects may have contributed to the recent protests. The government identified 16 non-governmental organizations in connection with the protests.
In response, the Ford Foundation defended its funding criteria, while also reiterating its opposition to anarchy. The Foundation affirmed its support for Kenyans’ rights to advocate peacefully for a just and equitable country but clarified that it does not support any acts promoting violence.
“We repudiate any actions or speech that are hateful or advocate violence against any institution, individual, or community,” the statement read.
The Ford Foundation also expressed its commitment to building on its 60-year legacy in the region to help Kenyans unlock beneficial opportunities.
According to the Kenya National Human Rights Commission (KNHRC), as of Thursday, at least 60 people have died due to the protests, and another 66 individuals are missing and untraceable. Human rights organizations have accused the police of killing innocent Kenyans protesting for better government services. The protests have been ongoing for just over a month.
