Government orders two NGO bodies to cease operation

The government has ordered, with immediate effect, the termination of operations of a group of civil societies under the ‘Kura Yangu Sauti Yangu’ and ‘We The People’ consortiums.

In a letter to ‘Kura Yangu Sauti Yangu’ and ‘We The People’, the NGOs coordination board Executive Director Fazul Mahamed claimed that the two bodies had illegally received Ksh.36 million for purposes of funding “political and flagitious operations in Kenya” despite being registered as charitable organisations.

According to Mahamed, the amount was transferred from the George Soros Foundation, a body owned by controversial Hungarian-born billionaire George Soros who is known for his wide global political networks. The George Soros Foundation is said to be a major funder of political activities.

“The purpose of this communication therefore is to direct ‘Kura Yangu Sauti Yangu’ and ‘We The People’ to with immediate effect, cease all its political operations in Kenya including all electoral related programs and desist from all and any engagements with legally registered charitable organizations in Kenya,” read the notice in part.

“Further to the foregoing, the entities have employed foreigners contrary to provisions of the Kenyan Citizenship and Immigration Act 2012 and the NGOs Coordination Act 1990.”

Mr. Mahamed said the government is investigating the allegations with a view of taking appropriate action against ‘Kura Yangu Sauti Yangu’ and ‘We The People’.

The ban comes amid reports that the two civil society groups were preparing to file petitions challenging President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election in the October 26 polls, hours to the Monday (November 6) midnight deadline.

Kura Yangu Sauti Yangu is an umbrella body that comprises 12 civil society organizations with the Kenya Human Rights Commission (KHRC) as the Secretariat.

Some of the NGOs under Kura Yangu Sauti Yangu including Katiba Institute, Inuka Trust and Muslims for Human Rights (MUHURI) were reported to be part of the consortium that is likely to file a petition at the Supreme Court.

In a move suspected to be the government’s bid to frustrate the organizations from filing the petition, the NGO’s Co-ordination Board had earlier summoned officials of the bodies over audit queries, falsifying financial records and hiring foreigners without Kenyan work permits.

Should no petition be filed by 11:59 pm today, the Assumption of Office Committee will swing into action to prepare for President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta’s swearing in ceremony on Tuesday the 14^th of November at the Kasarani stadium.