The government through the Public Benefit Organizations (PBO) Authority has revealed that only three Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) out of the 16 alleged to have received foreign funding to support protests are registered.
In a media briefing, the public benefits authority chairperson Mwambu Mabongah revealed that the 3 were fully registered with the registrar of societies and companies.
Earlier, there were allegations that the organizations had received funding from Ford Foundation to support the ongoing anti-govt protests.
“Out of the 16 NGOs reported to have received money from the Ford Foundation only three are registered with both the registrar of societies and companies,” clarified Mambongah.
This comes a week after foreign affairs Principal Secretary Korir Sing’oei wrote a letter to Ford Foundation President Darren Walker questioning funding of the listed NGOs.
PBO Reveals Illegal NGOs Alleged to be Funding Anti-Govt Protests
The authority launched investigations in the conduct of some PBOs operating in Kenya over allegations that they may have breached the acts and other written laws in Kenya.
“The Authority wishes to state that out of the 16 organizations listed in the correspondences by the principal Secretary of the Department of Foreign affairs only three are registered under PBO act of 2013,” claimed Mambonga.
Additionally, the Executive Director Public Benefit Regulatory Authority Lindon Otieno highlighted that the organizations should file their returns within 6 months after expiry of their financial year for clarity reasons.
“PBO act requires organizations to file returns within 6 months after expiry of their financial year so as to let the government on what they are doing and how they are doing and whether they are doing it in the confines if the law,” said Otieno.
Prior, 38 NGOs had issued a statement dismissing claims that they were being involved in funding the anti-govt protests.
Also Read: Truth Behind Ford Foundation Funding First Lady Rachel Ruto’s NGO
38 Organizations Refute Claims
In a joint statement issued on July 20, the organizations emphasized their commitment over the past three months to advocating for freedom of expression and the right to assemble including protest, active citizenship, an end to extrajudicial executions, enforced disappearances, abductions, and the theft of public resources.
In addition, they stated that the ongoing protests across various parts of the country are a direct result of the government’s failure to be accountable and transparent, and its disregard for the voices of the Kenyan people.
“Against this background, we are deeply concerned by the recent letter from the Government of Kenya implying that Civil Society Organizations fund and support unlawful behavior and unruly protests, which starkly contradict our work,” read part of the statement.
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