No, US-based organisation Ford Foundation hasn't admitted to funding protests in Kenya. Viral graphics fabricated
IN SHORT: Two graphics, apparently from Kenyan media outlets Citizen Digital and NTV Kenya, have gone viral on social media. They claim that the Ford Foundation has admitted to funding protests in Kenya. But the graphics are fake and the US-based organisation has denied the allegations.
Two graphics claiming that the Ford Foundation has confessed to funding the deadly anti-government protests in Kenya are doing the rounds on social media.
The Ford Foundation is a US-based non-governmental organisation. According to its website, its mission is to reduce poverty and injustice in the world.
The graphics feature the logos of Citizen Digital and NTV Kenya, suggesting that they were published by the Kenyan news outlets.
The one with the Citizen Digital logo reads: "FORD Foundation regrets funding Kenyan Organisations citing Misuse of Funds meant for promoting civil education and enhancing community engagement."
The graphic with the logo of NTV Kenya reads: "INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS AT FORD FOUNDATION CONFIRM THAT DONOR FUNDS FROM THE ORGANIZATION WERE USED TO FINANCE PROTESTS IN KENYA."
Both feature what appears to be a statement from the organisation regretting its actions.
It is with deep regret that we announce the unfortunate outcome related to our recent funding, which has inadvertently contributed to instability and violence in Kenya. The funded activities were initially intended to promote civil education and enhance community engagement as a means to enhancing Democracy. However, our internal investigations have revealed that the recipients of our donation, who will be named later, misused the funds for illegal purposes.
The graphics come just days after Kenyan president William Ruto accused the foundation of sponsoring anti-government protests in the country.
The protests, largely led by young Kenyans, began on 18 June 2024 in opposition to the finance bill, which included controversial tax hike proposals. On 26 June, Ruto announced the bill's withdrawal.
But the protests have since shifted to demands for accountability in government and even Ruto's resignation.
But are the graphics and the statement on them legit? We checked.
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Fake graphics
If the foundation had made such a confession, it would've been reported by reputable local and international news outlets. But Africa Check could not find any reports or statements about this on the internet.
Instead, Citizen Digital and Nation reported that the foundation had denied the allegations.
Nation and NTV Kenya are both owned by the Nation Media Group. The two media outlets often post graphics on their verified social media accounts, including Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). We scoured their accounts for the graphic and came up empty.
On 16 July, Citizen Digital posted the circulating graphic on its official social media accounts, with the word "fake" printed in red.
"Fake News Alert! Disregard any information that is not on our official social media platforms," it said.
Similarly, NTV Kenya posted the graphic with its logo, calling it fake and asking its followers not to share it.
The graphics are fake and should be avoided.
