President William Ruto has challenged alleged sponsors behind anti-government protests to come clean, reveal their identities and table their development plans for the country.
Speaking during a church service in Bomet on Sunday, July 21, Ruto said those sponsoring the Gen Z led protests should provide their alternative plans instead of constantly attacking the government.
The Head of State stated that the sponsors should not remain anonymous adding that they should show up with strategies to steer the country forward.
“I want to challenge those who are sponsoring orchestrating and funding this violence and give us their alternative views on our to take Kenya forward. They must not remain, anonymous, formless or faceless. They must step forward and tell us beyond anarchy and destruction what are their alternative plans for Kenya,” Ruto said.
“I challenge them, the shadowed and faceless people, to step forward and tell use if they have any alternative ideas for taking Kenya forward.”
He explained that the government will not surrender the country’s democracy who want to use violence to destroy the nation.
“As a government we are going to be firm and determined to protect this country from the tyranny of violence, mayhem and anarchy. We are going to protect life and property,” Ruto said.
Ruto urged Kenyans to guard the peace, stability and democracy of the country so that it is not undermined and sabotaged by those sponsoring the anonymous people.
“We must never agree to replace our democracy with a dictatorship and tyranny of faceless, anonymous people who want to use violence, destruction of property and loss of life to replace our democracy.
Ruto Advises the Media
The President also challenged the media to act responsibly while reporting the anti-government protests.
He advised them to stop promoting anarchy and violence through their news stories and updates.
“I want to request the media to report responsibly. Reporting, celebrating, encouraging anarchy, violence, destruction of property, mayhem is irresponsible. If the country goes the wrong direction there will be nothing to report and nowhere to report from,” Ruto said.
Also Read: Ruto Misses Key AU Meeting; Attends Church Service Instead
Ban of Harambees
Ruto has also said that government officials will continue to participate in the building of churches and religious places of worship despite the harambee ban.
He explained that government banned state officials from participating in harambees since some people were using them for the wrong reasons.
He stated that the state employees with continue taking part in the building of churches but in a structed manner.
“We shall continue to build places of worship in Kenya and continue to support them. We will do it in a different way using legislation to make it transparent and accountable,” Ruto said.
Also Read: Raila Issues 6 Demands Ruto Must Meet Before Talks Amid Azimio Fallout
Ford Foundation Responds to Ruto’s Accusations
This comes after Ruto accused American Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Ford Foundation of sponsoring the anti-government protests.
Ruto claimed that the Ford Foundation hired goons to cause violence during the protests which led to the destruction of property and looting of businesses.
“Those sponsoring them to cause violence and mayhem must be ashamed of themselves. We ask the Ford Foundation to explain to Kenyans its role in the recent protests. We will call out all those who are bent on rolling back our hard-won democracy,” the President said.
However, the Foundation denied the stating that it acknowledges the right of Kenyans to peacefully advocate for a just and equitable country.
Ford Foundation denied the allegations by President Ruto emphasizing that its policies have always remained neutral.
“We do not fund or sponsor the recent protests against the finance bill and have a strictly non-partisan policy for all of our grantmaking,” the statement reads in part.
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