Teachers, civil society protest Bill to kick NGOs out of State firms

Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Mr Wison Sosion (left) addresses the media on June 9, 2014 at Panafric Hotel as they protest against amendments on Public Benefit Organization Bill 2014. He is flanked by KNUT National Chairman Mudzo Nzili (center) and the Chairman of NGOs council Wilson Kipkazi (right) PHOTO/ JEFF ANGOTE

What you need to know:

  • The amendments in the PBO Act will ensure that the NGOs are denied membership in various boards including in the
  • NHIF and NSSF
  • The State Law Miscellaneous Amendment Bill 2012 was sneaked into parliament

The National Council of NGOs has protested over an amendment bill which it says aims at denying it representation in various boards

According to the NGO Council, the State Law Miscellaneous Amendment Bill 2012 which seeks to introduce several changes in several Acts including the Public Benefits Organisation (PBO) Act will water down the gains in the civil society sector.

The Council Chairman Mr Wilson Kipkazi said the amendments in the PBO Act will ensure that the NGOs are denied membership in various boards including in the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) and the National Social Security Fund (NSSF).

“The State Law Miscellaneous Amendment Bill 2012 was sneaked into parliament (National Assembly) and has gone through the first and second reading and if it goes through, then it will drain the gains made in the country,” he said while addressing a press conference at a Nairobi hotel.

Mr Kipkazi said the changes were not subjected to scrutiny by the NGOs or the public and asked parliament to drop the amendments and seek their input.

He said other changes include ensuring that the NGO Council is dissolved and both the president and the Cabinet Secretary given powers over PBOs.

Mr Kipkazi warned that weakening NGOs, which are the institutions charged with keeping the government on check and ensure good management of public resources, would be a wrong move.

Addressing the same conference, Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Mr Wilson Sossion said teachers would not accept to be kicked out of the NHIF board.

“Teachers in this country contribute Sh7 billon per year in the NHIF and we will not accept to give money to an institution where we are not represented,” he said.

The KNUT leader said the government was making the wrong move by attempting to take charge of all the institutions including NGOs.