NGOs fault foreign funding rule

The NGO Council has opposed an attempt to introduce a law requiring foreign funding to its members to be limited to only 15 per cent of their total budgets.

Chief Executive Officer Kevinnah Loyatum on Monday said NGOs and civil society groups “heavily rely on the Sh300 billion they receive annually from international donors for various community projects”.

She said any reduction could hurt their operations to improve people’s livelihoods.

“The proposal to cut NGOs’ foreign funding is in bad faith and will adversely affect marginalised communities that depend on donor aid,” Ms Loyatum told the Nation.

The CEO urged MPs to look at the benefits of foreign donations and stop stifling NGOs’ humanitarian work.

The amendment Bill NGOs are opposing was introduced to Parliament by Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria.

He wants the Public Benefits Organisation Act 2013 amended.

If passed, the law will limit the funds an NGO can receive from international donors.

However, Mrs Loyatum said there was a need to devise effective mechanisms to ensure accountability and transparency in the use of funds from international donors.

STIFLE NGOS

At the same time, Haki Africa Executive Director Hussein Khalid accused lawmakers of planning to “stifle and suffocate NGOs for their own self interest”.

“We are disturbed by the unwarranted plans to hamper the work of NGOs,” he said.

The MPs are being driven by malice, he added.

SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES

He said civil society groups saw this as a plan by the government to take control of independent and dissenting voices, and make all institutions conform to its agenda.

The executive director reminded the government that NGOs inject into the national economy Sh200 billion every year.

“Besides, non-governmental organisations directly employ a minimum of 200,000 Kenyans who support their families with the funds they receive from the NGOs,” he added.