Charities admit flouting the law

Two blacklisted NGOs in Coast have defended their work but admitted failure to submit annual returns.

Kisauni Community Development Programme Coordinator Charo Tangai Wednesday said “it was sad to hear that an education non-governmental organisation’’ was among those the government wants to close shop.

When the Nation visited the offices at Bombolulu in Kisauni, it was a beehive of activity, with students busy at a library in the compound.

Mr Tangai said the group was mainly involved in offering library services and quizzes to public schools to improve their performance.

“This is a project within a settlement that serves five villages and stopping it will affect our children,” he said.

DEREGISTRATION

Mtongwe Community Initiative Programme coordinator George Karoto said the organisation had not received any communication from the NGO Board and only heard about the deregistration from the media.

Mr Karoto said the organisation was helping 1,056 orphans and vulnerable children in Mtongwe.

“We have not filed returns because the institution has  not received funds from donors,” he said.

At the same time, the NGO Council faulted the deregistration of 510 groups, saying they should have been given more time to comply with the law.

Chief executive Kevinnah Loyatum Wednesday said the council had written to the Board, seeking more time for the agencies to submit their returns.

“Deregistering especially in those in the health fields, could be detrimental to thousands of terminally ill Kenyans who rely on donor aid for assistance,” she said.