State turns the gun on 13 NGOs, demos financiers

When hundreds of youths staged an Anti-government protest along Moi Avenue, Nairobi on July 16, 2024. [Boniface Okendo, Standard]

The State has launched a probe into the activities of 13 Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and entities it claims are not properly registered.

The targeted organisations are among those accused of receiving funding from the Ford Foundation to support the anti-government protests rocking the country.

While addressing a roadside rally in Nakuru last week, President Ruto claimed Ford Foundation was funding the protests.

Foreign Affairs PS Korir Sing’oei last Friday released names of 16 organisations the government insists are fuelling the protests. 

They are Africa Uncensored Limited, Women’s Link Worldwide, Centre for Resource Mobilization and Development, 
Transform Empowerment for Action Initiative, Kenya Human Rights Commission, Open Institute Trust, Africa Centre for Open Governance, Transparency International, The Institute for Social Accountability, National Coalition of Human Rights Defenders, Shining Hope for Communities, Coalition for Grassroots Human Rights Defenders Kenya, Community Aid International, Mzalendo Trust, Usikimye and Citizens Advancement Initiative.

The government said only the Kenya Human Rights Commission, Shining Hope for Communities and Transform Empowerment for Action are registered under the Public Benefit Organisations Act, 2013, which regulates the civil society sector.

“Out of the 16 organisations listed, only three are registered under the PBO Act, the rest are registered with the Registrar of Societies and Companies,” said Mwambu Mwabonga, chairman of Public Benefit Organisations Regulatory Authority.

Consequently, the government through the Directorate of Criminal Investigations is probing the other 13 organisations, according to Mwabonga during a press briefing yesterday in Nairobi. The authority registers, monitors and regulates Public Benefit Organisations (PBOs) operating in the country.

Mwabonga said, under Section 63 of the PBO Act, the probe will inquire into the activities of the 13 organisations.

Section 63 of the Act give the authority the power to institute an inquiry in accordance with Section 42(1) (h) that states: “institute inquiries to determine if the activities of public benefit organisations do not comply with this Act or any other law.”

He maintained that all organisations engaged in public benefit work in the country will be required to either obtain public benefit status or register directly.

Further, the authority will seek parliamentary approval to bring all public benefit organisations under one regulatory umbrella.

“We are reaching out to partners in the sector who are willing to support us in ensuring smooth work,” he said.

The government demanded accountability reports from Ford Foundation on Sh752 million allegedly given to the 16 organisations between April 2023 and May 2024.

Over the weekend while distancing themselves from the allegations of fuelling violence in the country, the more than 20 Civil Society Organisationsmaintained that the demonstrations are fuelled by President William Ruto’s adamance to listen to the demands of Kenyans. 

“If they are going to sponsor violence in Kenya, if they are going to sponsor anarchy, we are going to call them out and we are going to tell them that they either style up or they leave,” said Dr Ruto.

Ford Foundation has since denied being behind the protest. “We do not fund or sponsor the recent protests against the finance bill,” said the organisation in a statement.