Activists Fight Back Days After PS Omollo’s Directive on NGOs

The Kenya National Civil Society Centre (KNCSC) has urged Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Public Benefit Organisatons (PBOS) to ignore a directive issued by Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo calling on the institutions to align with the Bottom-up Transformation Agenda (BETA).

In a statement dated Sunday, September 10, KNCSC Executive Director Suba Churchill argued that the directive counters the values of non-partisanship, non-discrimination, transparency, and accountability that underpin the foundation of civil society organisations.

He added that independent organisations, that pride themselves on fairness and neutrality cannot align themselves with a government whose leadership has openly been described as a shareholding company.

Churchill reiterated that the companies are independent, self-governing, and autonomous groups premised on carrying out their activities without interference from the government.

“Private entities cannot be lumped together with Government Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) and directed on the basis of a partisan political preference and leaning like the ruling Kenya Kwanza Alliance’s Bottom-up Transformation Agenda that even some of its own members cannot articulate,” read part of the statement.

Churchill accused PS Omollo of orchestrating the plan which he claimed seeks to control and influence Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and have them toe the government’s line.

“KNCSC would like to remind the PS and the Kenya Kwanza administration that he seems to serve with the zeal of the ruling coalition’s pledge to operationalize the Public Benefit Organizations Act of 2013, which is yet to be operationalized despite two High Court directives and assurances by the government to commence the law,” he added.

While issuing the directive on September 8, PS Omollo announced the directive would guarantee partnership and better synergy among different parties working in the aid industry.

Omollo explained the decision was informed by the discovery that the donor aid model only favoured the interests of international donor organisations rather than supporting Kenya’s development agenda.

“Our prime focus is on optimising the value of all projects and programs funded through international aid to ensure they complement our developmental plan outlined in the bottom-up agenda,” the PS stated.

In the financial year 2021/22, the NGO’s contribution to the economy grew to Ksh185.5 billion from Ksh175.9 billion in the previous financial year.