Written By Lisa Murimi
Ugenya Member of Parliament, David Ochieng, has openly criticized President William Ruto and his administration for blaming the Ford Foundation over recent protests.
In an interview on Citizen TV, the Kenya Kwanza MP labeled the government’s actions as a Public Relations (PR) stunt.
Ochieng argued that the President and his government are missing a crucial opportunity to reset the country on a foundation of good values.
He emphasized that this is not a time to blame civil society but to steer the country towards accountability and a new path.
“We are at a point where we have to draw the line and say that we are going to live a better life. These young people are asking for the president to lead them in founding this new republic. They want a new life. This should be understood so that no one is being blamed,” Ochieng stated.
He further criticized the government’s recent actions, including forming a committee to conduct a forensic audit on the debt, as mere PR exercises.
Ochieng called on President Ruto to genuinely listen to the issues being raised by Kenyans.
Despite his criticism, Ochieng reaffirmed his commitment to Kenya Kwanza, asserting his democratic right to speak out when he sees things going wrong.
“When we joined Kenya Kwanza, there was no requirement for us to leave our brains at the door. We joined with our brains intact,” he added.
The remarks came after the government accused the Ford Foundation of funding organizations behind the protests.
The foundation has denied these allegations, stating that all its funding to Kenyan organizations is transparent and accountable.
“As a charitable foundation with a global presence, our grant-making is transparent and readily available on our website,” the Ford Foundation responded.
