Prof. Peter Kagwanja, the Chief Executive at Africa Policy Institute, has dismissed President William Ruto’s claims that the current anti-government protests by young Kenyans are funded by foreign entities.

The former government advisor says that the protests in which young Kenyans (Gen Z) are agitating for wholesome changes in the government is by and large spontaneous.

“The Gen Z revolt is by and large spontaneous. We have had a lot of university protests, opposition-led protests but this is unique. It has very unique characteristics because it steers clear of the existing political divides which have largely been ethnic,” Prof. Kagwanja said in an interview with TV47 on Monday, July 15.

Prof. Kagwanja said that President William Ruto was missing the point thinking that some foreign entities are trying to topple his administration from power.

“The Gen Zs are not interested in taking over power. This is not a coup d’état or a revolutionary that wants to take power. This is a generation that wants to achieve morality in our politics. The goal is to transform power.”

He, however, lauded President Ruto for dropping his tough stances and trying to effect changes called by Kenyans in his government. Ever since the protests began, President Ruto has rejected to sign the contentious Finance Bill 2024 into law, cut budgets in different government departments as well as dissolving his Cabinet.

President Ruto’s allegations

President Ruto, while in Nakuru, had alleged that the Ford Foundation is responsible for sponsoring anti-government protests, “violence and anarchy” in the country, and trying to undermine the country’s democracy.

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

The New York-based organisation has since refuted Ruto’s allegations.

“While we 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,” the foundation said. “We do not fund or sponsor the recent protests against the finance bill and have a strictly non-partisan policy of all our grantmaking.”