Civil society groups need to be regulated

What you need to know:

  • NGOs and civil society groups have been vocal in demanding transparency and accountability on the part of the government.
  • Why do they complain when the same is asked of them? Are they untouchable?

Traditionally, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) supplement the government’s development efforts through their work as humanitarian agencies in education, health, and relief services.

In Kenya, however, almost everything ends up being politicised, including the role of civil society groups.

Reports that Jubilee plans to bring to the National Assembly a Bill to regulate funding to NGOs and other civil society groups has, predictably, raised uproar.

The government has justified its actions on grounds of national security and that some civil society groups have been linked to terrorism and other criminal activities, including radicalisation of youths.

It cannot be denied that NGOs play a critical role in Kenya.

They have helped alleviate poverty, hunger, and disease and have played a pivotal role in the supply of clean water to those who had no access to it.

POLITICAL OVERTONES

However, their role has evolved and now includes political overtones.

President Kenyatta has demanded transparency on their part over the resources they mobilise on behalf of the Kenyans they purport to assist.

This is reminiscent of the 1990s, when President Daniel arap Moi accused the organisations of meddling in the internal affairs of Kenya.

NGOs and civil society groups have been vocal in demanding transparency and accountability on the part of the government.

Why do they complain when the same is asked of them? Are they untouchable?

They should be open to scrutiny so that it can be established that the money they solicit on behalf of poor Kenyans is used for the purpose it was intended.

Kenyans should ignore foreigners who are out to undermine our country and the recipients of foreign assistance who pay for this by being unpatriotic.

ARE SELF-REGULATING

For decades, nobody questioned the activities of NGOs in rural Kenya. They are established in areas where the government has no presence.

They are self-regulating and have their own control systems. The NGOs Coordination Board and the National Council of NGOs have the mandate to regulate such organisations.

As such, the government should not be seen as wanting to control them.

Some of these organisations are led by foreigners with questionable qualifications. Yet not all NGOs fall in this category.

There are many that are accountable and transparent. It is those that are out to benefit from donors at the expense of the welfare of Kenyans, peddling political propaganda in order to attract foreign funding, that are the problem.

Unfortunately, the genuine organisations that are committed to alleviating the suffering of the poor will also be affected if the new law is passed. In this case, the law may harm those it intends to protect.

The proposed law, which has a clause that seeks to allow foreign funding for only 15 per cent of NGOs’ budgets, must be studied carefully before it is enacted.

The blanket condemnation of the entire NGO sector is not fair. Both the opposition and the government, policymakers and lawmakers must handle the matter soberly so that Kenyans who need help do not suffer.

Mr Seronei is an expert in NGO management. ([email protected]).

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