The Ford Foundation has responded to accusations by the Kenyan government regarding grants it distributed to 15 civil society organizations, which Kenyan president William Ruto described as “anti-government.”

The Kenyan government demanded the foundation submit reports detailing the distribution of $5.78 million in grant funding in the country, the Daily Nation, an African newspaper, reports. In a letter from the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, the government claims the foundation’s grants were used to support anti-government protests in June, that occurred after a contentious finance bill was approved by the Kenyan parliament. The government identified several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) receiving funds, including the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC), Institute of Social Accountability (TISA), and the Africa Centre for Open Governance. After deadly protests in the nation’s capital, Ruto chose not to sign the bill that would raised taxes on daily items and services such as internet data, fuel, and diapers, the Associated Press reports.

The Ford Foundation dismissed the allegations of funding protests in a statement, clarifying that all funding and grant activity was transparent and available on its website.

“While we continue to 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,” said Ford Foundation president Darren Walker.

Despite the scrutiny, both the foundation and the Kenyan government reiterated their goal of maintaining a relationship.

(Photo credit: Flickr/U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Jack Sanders)