The Gates Foundation, previously known as the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, has been granted special diplomatic status and immunity by the Kenyan government. Musalia Mudavadi, the Kenyan Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, confirmed the new cooperation agreement with the foundation. He announced that it qualifies for benefits under Section 11 of the Privileges and Immunities Act. In his statement, Mudavadi said, “The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, hereafter referred to as ‘the Foundation,’ is a charitable trust that fights poverty, disease, and inequality in over 140 countries. The Government of Kenya has agreed to cooperate with the Foundation, which is hereby declared an organisation to which Section 11 of the Act shall apply.”
Expatriates living in Kenya will enjoy several privileges similar to those granted to diplomatic officials, including tax exemptions, immunity from legal proceedings, and repatriation facilities during international crises, among other benefits. President Ruto has approved the establishment of the Gates Foundation’s operations in Kenya, stating that the creation of a hosting centre for the foundation will attract investors and encourage further collaborations. Given the controversies that have surrounded the foundation over the years, the question remains: will this new partnership prove beneficial for Kenya?
Sources:
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(02)11593-5/fulltext
https://www.rosalux.de/en/publication/id/44425
https://theecologist.org/2020/aug/14/gates-failing-green-revolution-africa