Revolutionary artist Kasmuel McOure on Friday, February 7, 2025, welcomed a personal audit to ascertain if he was bankrolled to attend the Gen-Z protests that rocked the country in June 2024.
Speaking to a local TV station, Kasmuel, one of the founders of the KasKazini Muziki, denied reports that he was heavily financed to push certain agendas during the protests where most of the young people were against the 2024 Finance Bill.
While denying receiving money, Kasmuel made it clear that he was ready to be audited so that the matter could be put to rest.
He however claimed that some activists turned up to the protests for their vested interests including to use it as a tool to solicit grants from donors.
Without mentioning names, Kasmuel emphasised that the same audit should be extended to some of the activists who were vocal during the demos that forced President William Ruto to drop the contentious Finance Bill 2024.
“I personally did not that is why I keep on daring everyone because we know everything. I dare all of us to get audited,” Kasmuel responded after being asked whether he received any money.
“This is not to cause division within the movement, we must come with clean hands,” he remarked.
Rubbishes sellout tag
At the same time, the music educator dismissed claims that he betrayed the movement for personal gains after he agreed to join the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Kasmuel hit back at his critics claiming that some of them went on expensive vacations after the protests without revealing the sources of the money used to finance their trips.
“You find that some of the front-liners who said I sold out were on vacation. Some of them went to Venezuela. Who pays for that if you are a political party that receives Ksh12,000? Who is paying for that if you have a failing social justice centre? Who is financing your trips? We have to be entirely honest,” Kasmuel retorted.
“If you want to castigate me ask me questions in regard to the ODM Youth League,” he insisted.
Ruto blamed Ford Foundation
At the height of the protests, the government called out various organisations and accused them of financing the protests. President William Ruto accused the Ford Foundation, an American private foundation, of sponsoring violence during the anti-government protests.
Ruto claimed that the Foundation hired goons to cause mayhem during the protests which led to the destruction of property and looting of businesses.
“Nataka niulize watu wa Ford Foundation watuambie hio pesa wanatoa, wanatoa ifanye fujo ndio wapate faida gani?” he posed.
“We are going to call them out and we are going to tell them if they are not interested in democracy in Kenya, if they are going to sponsor violence and anarchy we are going to call them out and we are going to tell them they either style up or they leave.”
Ford Foundation immediately denied the claims of funding the protests.
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