Former Civil Service head Francis Muthaura at the launch of his new foundation. Photo/ FRANCIS MBATHA
NAIROBI, Kenya Nov 29 – Needy Kenyan scholars seeking to pursue masters and PhD programmes are set to benefit from a new foundation founded by former Head of Civil Service Francis Muthaura.
The Ambassodor Francis K. Muthaura Foundation will award Masters and PhD scholarships to needy Kenyans studying International Relations, Leadership and Management as well as regional Integration.
The $1 million (Sh90 million) foundation will also support public dialogue research and publications in the related areas.
Muthaura said the money used to create the foundation was part of the cash raised by his friends cater for his expenses in his case International Criminal Court (ICC) which was dropped in March 2013.
“I cannot really thank all my friends enough who contributed to my expenses for my case at the ICC, the cases was really expensive, I used to spend Sh30 million per month. Once the cases we dropped I really wanted to return the money but after a few consultations with my friends I decided to form the foundation,“ he said.
Muthaura was accused alongside President Uhuru Kenyatta for crimes against humanity during the 2008 post election violence.
He faced five counts of crimes against humanity, including authorizing the police to use excessive force against protesters during the violence that swept through Kenya after the 2007 election.
“The confirmation of the charges should never have happened, and I will say the same for the people whose cases are still there,” he said.
President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto alongside journalist Joshua Arap Sang are still on trial.
He said the foundation will be instrumental in building leaders who will transform the country.
The scholarships will be granted annually to students in the related disciplines in a Kenyan university with applications made in July each year for September admissions.
In the first year of operation the foundation has already selected 10 beneficiaries- two PhDs and eight masters programs.
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